This research aims to analyze how Prabowo Subianto is represented in The New York Times coverage of the 2024 Indonesian presidential election through the structural elements of news discourse. This study employs a qualitative descriptive method using Teun A. van Dijk’s (1988) Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) framework, which includes macrostructure, superstructure, and microstructure. The data consists of two NYT articles, published before and after the election with titled “Why This Presidential Front-Runner Is Stirring Fears of the ‘Death of Democracy’?” (January 21, 2024) and “Which Version of an Ex-General Did Indonesia Just Vote For?” (February 15, 2024). The macrostructure analysis reveals that both articles frame Prabowo’s candidacy with suspicion and concern, highlighting themes of authoritarianism, political rebranding, and ideological inconsistency. At the superstructure level, the articles emphasize Prabowo’s controversial background, military past, and his strategic alliances, while also incorporating various verbal reactions that express skepticism, fear, and cautious hope. The microstructure analysis, which covers semantics, syntax, stylistics, and rhetoric, demonstrates that NYT employs emotionally charged vocabulary, active sentence constructions, ironic contrasts and metaphors to construct a complex, often negative portrayal of Prabowo. The findings show that both articles predominantly portray Prabowo negatively, emphasizing themes such as questioning his democratic credibility and highlights his authoritarian legacy. This representation reflects broader ideological perspectives held by Western media when portraying non-Western political figures. The implications of this study highlight how international media outlets can shape global perceptions through linguistic strategies and discourse structures, contributing to critical awareness about media bias and power in shaping political narratives.