Indonesian President Repeatedly Calls Trump “Sir”—Sign Of Respect Or Intimidation? | Video

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto’s congratulatory call to US President-elect Donald Trump has stirred online reactions after he repeatedly addressed Trump as “sir” during the brief conversation. The call, lasting less than three minutes, took place shortly after Prabowo landed in Washington for an official visit, where he is also scheduled to meet with US President Joe Biden and celebrate the 75th anniversary of US-Indonesian relations, with a focus on strengthening bilateral cooperation.

During the call, Prabowo expressed his eagerness to meet Trump in person, saying, “Wherever you are, I’m willing to fly to congratulate you personally, sir.” Trump responded warmly, “We’ll do that, anytime you want.” Though it remains unclear whether Prabowo and Trump will meet during his visit, Prabowo’s frequent use of “sir” drew mixed reactions from netizens on X. One user commented, “Stop calling him ‘sir’. Are you not the president of Indonesia???” while another observed, “Why are you talking to him like he’s your boss? I counted at least 40 ‘sirs’.”

In the video shared by Prabowo, he referred to Trump as “sir” at least 20 times. At one point, Prabowo stated, “I will try to call on you at your convenience, sir, if it’s possible.” Trump replied, “Yes, you call anytime you want. You have my number, this is my number. It will be my great honor to help you.”

The conversation and Prabowo’s respectful tone have since sparked widespread online discussions, highlighting the cultural and diplomatic nuances in addressing high-profile foreign leaders.