When Prabowo Questioned Whether Verrell Bramasta Was an Indonesian Citizen
President Prabowo Subianto made a playful remark to celebrity and member of Commission X DPR RI, Verrell Bramasta, while attending the inauguration of 1,061 Desa Merah Putih cooperatives in Nganjuk. Prabowo jokingly asked whether Verrell was an Indonesian citizen.
This moment occurred when Prabowo greeted several officials present at the event on Saturday (May 16, 2026). Initially, Prabowo greeted MPR Chairman Ahmad Muzani, DPR RI Speaker Sultan Bachtiar Nazamudin, and Commission IV DPR Chair Siti Hediati Hariyadi.
Prabowo also greeted Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs Zulkifli Hasan and his team. Furthermore, Prabowo greeted the other Coordinating Ministers/Ministers, TNI Commander, and National Police Chief, Head of Agency, Special Envoy Deputy Minister, and all members of the Merah Putih Cabinet who were present.
“Almost all ministers are present, except those who have special permission because they have other activities,” said Prabowo in his speech.
Prabowo then mentioned one by one the Coordinating Ministers besides Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs Zulkifli Hasan, namely Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs General (Ret.) Djamari Chaniago, Coordinating Minister for Law and Human Rights, Immigration, and Corrections Prof. Yusril Ihza Mahendra, Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Prof. Pratikno, Coordinating Minister for Community Empowerment Abdul Muhaimin Iskandar, Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono.
Prabowo also greeted TNI Commander General Agus Subiyanto, National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo, East Java Governor Chofifah Indar Parawansa, and the ranks of the East Java Forkopimda (Military Commander, Police Chief, and other leaders). Furthermore, Prabowo greeted regents and vice-regents who were present, leaders of state-owned enterprises, Chairman of KADIN, leaders of private companies, village heads, sub-district heads, and village/sub-district officials.
Prabowo then greeted Deputy Chairman of Commission IV DPR Abdul Haris and Alex Indra Lukman, Deputy Chairman of Commission VI Eko Hendro Purnomo, Member of Commission VII DPR RI Muhammad Hatta, Member of Commission VIII Sigit Purnomo Syamsuddin Said, Member of Commission X Verrell Bramasta.
After being mentioned by Prabowo, Verrell stood up and gave a salute to Prabowo. Prabowo then asked about Verrell’s Indonesian citizenship status.
“Are you an Indonesian citizen?” asked Prabowo.
“Yes, Mr. President, I am an Indonesian citizen,” replied Verrell while nodding.
Prabowo then asked again about Verrell’s family background.
“What is your ancestry? What is your lineage?” Prabowo asked again.
Verrell then answered that he has Balinese and East Javanese descent. Verrell is known to be the son of artists Venna Melinda and Ivan Fadilla Soedjoko.
However, Prabowo initially misheard the answer. He thought Verrell had Belgian ancestry. Verrell then replied ‘Bali’ again.
“Bali? There are Balinese people like you,” said Prabowo.