Prabowo Asks Journalists to Leave During Speech to Academics

President Prabowo Subianto asked journalists to leave the room while he was delivering a speech to thousands of academics. The moment occurred during his briefing at the Science, Technology, and Industry Convention at the Jakarta International Convention Center on Friday, 26 June 2026. In his speech, Prabowo discussed various topics ranging from the role of academics in development to international politics. The address at the event organised by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology was initially open for media coverage for the first half hour. However, midway through his remarks, Prabowo requested that journalists in the convention hall exit. “I respectfully invite the journalists to have coffee outside; I am sure Mr Brian (Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology Brian Yuliarto) has prepared some excellent coffee,” Prabowo said. The Chairman of the Gerindra Party said he wanted to speak frankly with the academics present and did not want the session to be covered by the media. “Journalists, with all due respect, members of the media, today I want to have a heart-to-heart talk with the professors,” he stated. Prabowo said he would share data and facts in his possession with the participants. Before closing the public portion of his speech, Prabowo remarked that academics are the most intelligent people in a nation. “If a country wants to rise, if a country wants to advance, it must indeed utilise or mobilise the potential and capabilities of its campuses and universities,” he said. Prabowo claimed he has involved academics in his policy-making. He also spoke of the importance of elites uniting towards a single goal for the nation’s progress. The forum, titled “National Dialogue,” attended by Prabowo was part of the Indonesian Science, Technology, and Industry Convention organised by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology. The event carried the theme “Strategy for Indonesia’s Economic Independence and Welfare.” Several cabinet members also attended the activity, including Vice President Gibran Rakabuming, Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology Brian Yuliarto, and Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya.