Prabowo Campaigns to US Business Leaders, Hopes to Win New Supporters
President Prabowo Subianto jested that he might gain a few new supporters whilst speaking before American business leaders. The quip was made during a business summit at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington D.C., United States.
Prabowo began by remarking on his tendency to speak at length when standing at a podium. He noted that such a habit was a negative trait of politicians and political leaders.
Prabowo then moved to wrap up his address. "However, I think this is your fault for giving me a podium," Prabowo joked on Wednesday, 18 February 2026, local time.
The head of state went on to say that a US political leader had once advised him never to stop campaigning. According to Prabowo, the American politician delivered this message shortly after Prabowo had been elected president.
"Because an American political leader once taught me — he said, 'Prabowo, never stop campaigning.' So even though I had just been elected — and he said this a few weeks after I was elected — he told me, 'Never stop campaigning,'" Prabowo said, recounting the politician's advice.
Prabowo then quipped that he might garner additional support through the forum, having already presented — or effectively campaigned about — the state of Indonesia's economy. "So here I am. Who knows, I might pick up three or four extra supporters from this meeting," Prabowo said.
Prabowo began by remarking on his tendency to speak at length when standing at a podium. He noted that such a habit was a negative trait of politicians and political leaders.
Prabowo then moved to wrap up his address. "However, I think this is your fault for giving me a podium," Prabowo joked on Wednesday, 18 February 2026, local time.
The head of state went on to say that a US political leader had once advised him never to stop campaigning. According to Prabowo, the American politician delivered this message shortly after Prabowo had been elected president.
"Because an American political leader once taught me — he said, 'Prabowo, never stop campaigning.' So even though I had just been elected — and he said this a few weeks after I was elected — he told me, 'Never stop campaigning,'" Prabowo said, recounting the politician's advice.
Prabowo then quipped that he might garner additional support through the forum, having already presented — or effectively campaigned about — the state of Indonesia's economy. "So here I am. Who knows, I might pick up three or four extra supporters from this meeting," Prabowo said.