Slip-ups From Global Heads of State Believing They're in Private

This week, Indonesia's President Prabowo Subianto thought he was having a private conversation with American leader Donald Trump at the Gaza peace summit in Egypt.

Instead, a live microphone situation captured Prabowo requesting Trump to arrange a meeting with his son Eric, both of whom hold positions at the Trump organization.

This was just one in a string of gaffes committed by world leaders thinking they're off the record.

Below are several additional noteworthy blunders:

Organ Transplants and Immortality

During a defense ceremony in Beijing in early autumn, China's leader Xi Jinping and Russia's head Vladimir Putin were recorded discussing organ replacement as a method for prolonging life.

"Human organs can be repeatedly transplanted. The longer you live, the more youthful you get, and you can even achieve immortality," the Russian translator was heard saying.

Xi, who was not visible, responded in Chinese: "Experts forecast that in the current era humans may live to 150 years old."

A conversation recorded from Chinese president Xi Jinping and Moscow's head Vladimir Putin

'Sea Rising at Your Door'

Ex-Australia immigration minister Peter Dutton faced criticism in 2015 when he joked about the situation of people in the Pacific facing rising sea levels.

Dutton was speaking to then-prime minister Tony Abbott, who had just returned from environmental talks with regional heads in Port Moresby.

Observing how a meeting about refugees was running on "Cape York time", Abbott responded: "We had a similar situation up in Port Moresby."

Dutton commented: "Time doesn't mean anything when you're about to have the ocean reaching your home."

The comments provoked anger from Pacific Islands and climate activists, while the political opponents called for Dutton to apologise.

Peter Dutton overheard joking with Tony Abbott about coastal flooding

'Prejudiced Voter'

While serving as UK PM Gordon Brown was on the trail in 2010, he faced a constituent who challenged him on migration and the economy.

Remaining connected to a Sky news microphone when he got into his vehicle, Brown was heard saying: "That was a disaster – they should not have placed me with that individual. Whose idea was that? Absurd."

When questioned about she had said, he answered: "All topics, she was just a bigoted woman."

The scandal received extensive coverage for an extended period and Brown ultimately lost the election.

'I Cannot Bear Netanyahu. He Lies.'

Ex-American leader 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 picked up by a live microphone.

Sarkozy stated: "I cannot bear Netanyahu. He's a liar."

Per a account from a French interpreter quoted by Reuters, Obama replied: "You're fed up with him but I must work with him frequently than you."

'Major League ***hole'

A vintage recording incident from former White House hopeful George W. Bush happened as he made a disparaging remark about a journalist from The New York Times.

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

Cheney answered: "Oh yeah, he is, big time."

Bush at a Labour rally in 2000
Amanda Scott
Amanda Scott

A tech enthusiast and writer passionate about innovation and storytelling, sharing insights from years of experience.