Top National News: Prabowo on Trump Tariffs, BGN Denial, and Sahroni's Sanction Completion

A number of articles on Tempo’s national channel attracted significant readership up to Monday morning, 23 February 2026. Among them was a report on President Prabowo Subianto’s response to the United States Supreme Court’s annulment of President Donald Trump’s trade tariffs.

An article about the National Nutrition Agency’s (BGN) denial of claims that free nutritious meal programme (MBG) kitchen partners earned Rp 1.8 billion in profit also drew considerable attention. The following are the three most-read stories on Tempo’s national channel on 22 February:

1. Prabowo’s Response to US Supreme Court Striking Down Trump Tariffs

President Prabowo stated that the Indonesian government respects the political process underway in the United States whilst preparing anticipatory measures. This was in response to the US Supreme Court’s decision to annul President Donald Trump’s global tariff policy.

The ruling declared that Trump lacked the authority to impose global tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). Nevertheless, shortly afterwards, Trump announced a new global import tariff of 10 per cent.

“We are ready to face all possibilities. We respect the domestic politics of the United States. We will monitor developments,” said President Prabowo in Washington, DC, on Saturday, 21 February 2026, as quoted from the Presidential Media Team’s statement.

According to the head of state, the newly announced 10 per cent tariff remains within limits manageable for Indonesia. “I think it is actually advantageous (the 10 per cent tariff),” Prabowo said.

Separately, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto noted that despite the US Supreme Court ruling, the Indonesian government would endeavour to maintain zero per cent tariffs or duty-free access to the US for a number of products already agreed upon between Prabowo and Trump.

President Prabowo Subianto and US President Donald Trump signed a reciprocal trade agreement in Washington, DC, on Thursday local time, 19 February 2026. The signing formalised the imposition of a 19 per cent tariff on Indonesian products entering the US.

On 20 February 2026, the US Supreme Court ruled that Trump’s trade tariff policy applied to numerous countries was unconstitutional. The court determined the president did not possess inherent authority to impose sweeping tariffs on any nation. Several hours after the ruling was issued, Trump announced the imposition of a 10 per cent tariff on all countries.

2. BGN Denies Claims That Nutrition Programme Partners Earn Rp 1.8 Billion in Profit

The National Nutrition Agency addressed a circulating video featuring the Chair of the Student Executive Body at Gadjah Mada University, who claimed that nutrition fulfilment service unit (SPPG) partners earned net profits of up to Rp 1.8 billion per year, linking this to alleged raw material mark-ups and claims of kitchen ownership by individuals associated with certain political parties.

BGN Deputy Head for Operations Sony Sonjaya said the narrative constituted disinformation inconsistent with the technical facts and financing framework of the free nutritious meal programme. “The claim that partners earn Rp 1.8 billion in net profit per year is a fictitious assumption not grounded in business and investment reality,” Sony said in an official statement on Saturday, 21 February 2026.

He explained that the Rp 1.8 billion figure was a maximum gross revenue estimate, calculated from Rp 6 million per day multiplied by 313 operating days (excluding Sundays), totalling Rp 1.878 billion per year.

According to BGN, this figure does not represent net profit as it must still be reduced by various cost components, including initial investment, operational activities, maintenance, asset depreciation, and business risk.

He further explained that to become an SPPG partner, prospective operators must construct facilities in accordance with technical standards set out in Technical Guidelines 401.1 of 2026. The estimated initial investment required from personal funds ranges from Rp 2.5 billion to Rp 6 billion, depending on location and land prices.

3. House Ethics Council Claims Ahmad Sahroni Has Completed His Sanction

Chair of the House of Representatives Ethics Council (MKD) Nazaruddin Dek Gam said Ahmad Sahroni could resume duties as a leader of House Commission III as he had completed his sanction. He stated that all processes for Sahroni’s appointment as Deputy Chair of Commission III were in accordance with prevailing decisions.

Sahroni was sanctioned by the MKD on 5 November 2025 with a six-month suspension. However, Nazaruddin said the MKD’s six-month sanction was calculated from the date of his party’s suspension. The NasDem Party suspended Sahroni from 31 August 2025.

“The MKD imposed a suspension on Ahmad Sahroni on 5 November 2025 for six months, calculated from the date of his suspension by the NasDem Party,” Nazaruddin Dek Gam said in his statement on Sunday, 22 February 2026.

Based on this ruling, Nazaruddin confirmed the sanction period had ended. “Following the MKD’s ruling, Ahmad Sahroni’s sanction will end on 5 March 2026,” he said.

Regarding Sahroni’s reinstatement as a leader of House Commission III, Nazaruddin said the decision was proposed by the NasDem Party on 19 February 2026. He confirmed that Sahroni’s reinstatement as a Commission III leader was in accordance with mechanisms outlined in the MD3 Law and the House’s rules of procedure.

“Ahmad Sahroni’s appointment as a leader of House Commission III on 19 February 2026, upon the NasDem Party’s nomination, takes effect on 10 March 2026, as the House enters a recess period from 19 February to 10 March 2026,” said the National Mandate Party politician.