Slip-ups Made by Global Heads of State When They Think They're in Private

Recently, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto thought he was having a confidential discussion with US President Donald Trump during Middle East peace talks in Egypt.

Instead, a live microphone situation captured Prabowo requesting Trump to arrange a call with his son Eric, both of whom serve as executives at the Trump organization.

This was just one in a series of gaffes committed by world leaders when they assume they're off the record.

Here are several additional noteworthy errors:

Transplant Procedures and Immortality

At a military parade in Beijing in early autumn, China's leader Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin were recorded talking about organ replacement as a method for extending lifespan.

"Human organs can be continuously transplanted. The more you extend your life, the more youthful you get, and you can even achieve immortality," Putin's interpreter was recorded stating.

Xi, who was not visible, answered in Chinese: "Some predict that in the current era people may reach 150 years old."

Dialogue recorded from China's leader Xi Jinping and Moscow's head Vladimir Putin

'Water Lapping at Your Door'

Former Australian border protection chief Peter Dutton faced criticism in 2015 when he made light about the plight of people in the Pacific experiencing ocean encroachment.

Dutton was conversing with then-prime minister Tony Abbott, who had recently come back from climate change talks with regional heads in Port Moresby.

Noting that a meeting about refugees was running on "Cape York time", Abbott responded: "There was a bit of that up in Port Moresby."

Dutton commented: "Schedules become irrelevant when you're about to have the ocean reaching your home."

The comments provoked anger from regional nations and environmentalists, while the political opponents called for Dutton to issue an apology.

Peter Dutton overheard joking with Tony Abbott about rising sea levels

'Prejudiced Voter'

As Labour prime minister Gordon Brown was campaigning in 2010, he faced a constituent who questioned him on migration and the economy.

Remaining connected to a broadcast microphone when he got into his vehicle, Brown was heard saying: "That was a disaster – they should never have put me with that individual. Who thought of that? Absurd."

Asked what she had said, he replied: "All topics, she was just a bigoted woman."

This incident received extensive coverage for weeks and Brown ultimately lost the election.

'I Cannot Bear Netanyahu. He Lies.'

Former US president Barack Obama was in discussion at the international conference in Cannes in 2011 with France's leader Nicolas Sarkozy when their remarks about Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu were captured by a live microphone.

Sarkozy stated: "I can't stand Netanyahu. He deceives."

Per a account from a translator quoted by Reuters, Obama replied: "You've had enough but I have to deal with him more often than you."

'Major League ***hole'

A classic hot-mic moment from then US presidential candidate George W. Bush happened as he made a negative comment about a reporter from The New York Times.

The Republican presidential nominee was unaware that a microphone was live when he leaned over to Dick Cheney at a political event and remarked, "There's Adam Clymer, major league asshole from the New York Times."

Cheney answered: "Absolutely, that's true, definitely."

Bush at a Labour rally in 2000
Lisa Pena
Lisa Pena

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