Donald Trump: Do they like me in Indonesia?

Natashya Gutierrez

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Donald Trump: Do they like me in Indonesia?
Republican frontrunner Donald Trump also praises House Speaker Satye Novanto – who faces various graft allegations in Indonesia – as a 'great man'

JAKARTA, Indonesia – Republican frontrunner Donald Trump had already left the podium and was on his way out before coming back again to ask one question: Do they like me in Indonesia?

On Thursday, September 3, Trump ended his press conference by introducing Indonesian House of Representatives Speaker Satye Novanto to the crowd. It is unclear why Novanto came to attend Trump’s New York event.

Trump is running for president of the United States in 2016.

“This is a very… an amazing man, he is as you know, Speaker of the House of Indonesia. He is here to see me. Setya Novanto,” Trump told the crowd as he introduced Novanto, bringing Novanto to stand next to him.

“One of the most powerful men, a great man, and he is here to see me today
and we will do great things for the United States.”

Novanto stood next to Trump, grinning.

Trump then turned to Novanto and asked, “Do they like me in Indonesia?”

A slightly baffled Novanto replied, “Yes, I like it. Thank you very much.”

Also present was Fadli Zon, Deputy House Speaker.

Ironically, Novanto is one of the most notorious figures in the House, due to allegations of graft against him. His appointment as House Speaker was largely controversial.

Novanto is currently under investigation by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).

Pledging loyalty

Earlier in the press conference, Trump pledged loyalty to the Republican Party and ruled out a third-party run for the 2016 election. It marks an about-turn for the former reality TV star, who kicked off the first Republican debate in Ohio last month by refusing to rule out a third-party run.

He currently enjoys an even greater lead with 30% of the Republican-leaning vote, according to the latest opinion poll by Monmouth University.

“We will go out and we will fight hard and we will win,” he said. “I see no circumstances under which I would tear up that pledge.”

His say-it-how-it-is attitude, business acumen and charisma have made him a rock star in the eyes of ordinary Republican voters but his refusal to dismiss an independent run had confounded party grandees.

Trump said he changed his mind because of his soaring poll figures and said that him winning the Republican ticket was the “absolute best way” to win the White House and beat the Democrats.

Counter puncher

Some commentators suggest securing Trump’s loyalty may come at a heavy price for the Republicans if it antagonizes those enraged by his more controversial opinions, particularly his insults towards illegal immigrants.

Trump denies that he is anti-immigrant, only anti illegal immigration.

He suggested he wanted to do more to help talented foreigners, such as tech entrepreneurs, engineers, physicists and the best performing foreign students stay in the country and acquire citizenship.

He also repeated his ardor for boundary-pushing rapper Kanye West.

“I’ll never say bad about him. You know why? He loves Trump,” he said. “I love him. Now, maybe in a few years I’ll have to run against him,” he said.

The musician stole headlines at the MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday by announcing that he had decided to run for president in 2020.

“I only hit people when they hit me,” said Trump. – With reports from Agence France-Presse

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Natashya Gutierrez

Natashya is President of Rappler. Among the pioneers of Rappler, she is an award-winning multimedia journalist and was also former editor-in-chief of Vice News Asia-Pacific. Gutierrez was named one of the World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leaders for 2023.