Prabowo Makes NU Attendees Laugh, Insulting Fuel to TNI-Polri Caps

BANGKALAN - President Prabowo Subianto opened his speech at the closing of the 2026 NU Alim Ulama and Great Conference (Konbes) with a number of light jokes.

When the audience clapped loudly when the name of the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia was mentioned, Prabowo immediately responded.

"Why is the applause so loud? Is it because the price of fuel doesn't go up? It's not the president who makes it not go up, it's the minister," said Prabowo in Bangkalan, Tuesday, June 23.

Prabowo also flirted with Social Minister Saifullah Yusuf or Gus Ipul. He recalled when he first met Gus Ipul who he said did not wear socks.

"Now he is a minister," he said.

Another joke came when Prabowo saw the TNI Commander and the National Police Chief wearing a turban at the NU event. He said the turban was not in the dress code.

"If you come to NU or Muhammadiyah places, you have to wear a turban," said Prabowo, greeted with laughter from the audience.

Beyond the joke, Prabowo praised NU. He called NU a religious organization that is nationalist, patriotic, and close to the people.

Prabowo also admitted that he felt comfortable being in the midst of the NU's large family because he had known the NU environment since childhood and had once been neighbors with Gus Dur's family in Jakarta.