TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto attended the International Labor Day or May Day celebration at the National Monument (Monas), Jakarta, on Friday, May 1, 2026. During the event, which was also attended by government officials, Prabowo took to the stage to deliver a speech and even danced.
The Gerindra Party Chairperson arrived at the Monas area in the morning. He traveled in a white Pindad vehicle, wearing a brown suit and a hat. Prabowo waved to the labor masses as he entered the National Monument through the Horse Statue entrance.
Prabowo sat and listened to speeches from several labor leaders before taking the stage to deliver his own address. Beyond his speech, Prabowo enlivened the Labor Day celebration by dancing and distributing shirts. What else did Prabowo do while celebrating Labor Day at Monas?
Dancing to Tipe-X
Prabowo’s arrival on the May Day stage was accompanied by music from the ska band, Tipe-X. As he walked across the stage, the President was seen dancing along with the workers in attendance.
Tipe-X played the hit song “Percayalah Padaku” while Prabowo began to dance. The former defense minister initially greeted the laborers and tossed the hat he was wearing toward the audience.
Prabowo also performed his characteristic silat-style dance moves. This choreography was repeatedly seen during his 2024 Presidential Election campaign. The audience enthusiastically welcomed the actions of the 74-year-old leader.
Took Off His Shirt on Stage
Prabowo took off his shirt on the May Day 2026 stage. The President unbuttoned his brown safari shirt and threw it toward the labor crowd.
The moment occurred shortly after Prabowo stepped off the stage of the May Day Fiesta event organized by the Labor Party. Initially, Prabowo delivered a speech from the podium, accompanied by state officials, Labor Party leaders, and the Confederation of Indonesian Trade Unions (KSPI).
After the speech, the strains of the workers’ unity song, “Internasionale,” echoed through Monas. At that moment, Prabowo unbuttoned his safari top and tossed the garment toward the audience.
When leaving the stage, the eighth president was seen wearing a black V-neck undershirt. Prabowo shook hands with attendees as he walked toward the Maung vehicle that transported him away.
Giving Away Shirts and Basic Commodities
After the speech, Prabowo stepped off the stage and was escorted to the Garuda Maung vehicle. From atop the Maung, he threw packaged shirts into the crowd at 10:00 a.m.
The shirts distributed by the government this Labor Day were inscribed with “MAYDAY 2026 For Our Nation, Our Body and Soul.” In addition to the shirts, the President provided basic commodities and umbrellas. The umbrellas were specifically given to female laborers.
Alongside clothing and umbrellas, the government distributed basic commodities to the crowd at Monas. The aid included 5 kilograms of rice, oil, fresh milk, coffee, and tea, provided in white drawstring bags inscribed with “The Presidential Palace of the Republic of Indonesia.”
Eka Yudha Saputra contributed to this article.
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