Purpose: This study aims to analyze the image restoration strategies employed by the TikTok account @partaigerindra to restore President Prabowo Subianto's public image during the controversy surrounding the Makan Bergizi Gratis (MBG) Program. Methodology: A qualitative approach is used with a content analysis method based on Benoit's Image Restoration Theory. The data consist of nine TikTok videos related to the MBG program uploaded between January and October 2025. Results: The findings reveal seven image restoration strategies: corrective action, transcendence, mortification, good intentions, bolstering, compensation, and accident. These strategies were communicated through narratives of program evaluation and improvement, public apologies, the promotion of the program's economic and social benefits, the highlighting of program achievements, assistance for affected victims, and the framing of incidents as unexpected events.Applications/Originality/Value: This study extends the application of Image Restoration Theory by examining how a political party uses TikTok to restore the image of a political leader during a public policy controversy. It demonstrates that image restoration is constructed through the integration of verbal, visual, and symbolic narratives to maintain policy legitimacy during a crisis.
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