Blunders From Global Heads of State When They Think They're in Private

This week, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto thought he was having a confidential discussion with American leader Donald Trump during Middle East peace talks in Egypt.

However, a live microphone situation revealed Prabowo requesting Trump to arrange a meeting with his son Eric, who hold positions at the family business.

This was just one in a series of missteps committed by international figures when they assume they're off the record.

Below are five other noteworthy blunders:

Organ Transplants and Everlasting Life

At a military parade in Beijing in early autumn, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin were recorded discussing organ transplants as a method for prolonging life.

"Vital organs can be repeatedly replaced. The longer you live, the younger you become, and it's possible to even reach eternal life," Putin's interpreter was heard saying.

Xi, who was not visible, answered in Chinese: "Some predict that in this century humans may live to 150 years old."

Dialogue heard between China's leader Xi Jinping and Russian leader Vladimir Putin

'Water Lapping at Your Door'

Former Australian immigration minister Peter Dutton faced criticism in 2015 when he joked about the plight of residents in the Pacific facing rising sea levels.

Dutton was speaking to former PM Tony Abbott, who had just returned from climate change talks with Pacific Island leaders 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 added: "Time doesn't mean anything when you're about to have water lapping at your door."

These remarks sparked outrage from Pacific Islands and climate activists, while the political opponents demanded Dutton to apologise.

Peter Dutton recorded making jokes with Tony Abbott about rising sea levels

'Bigoted Woman'

While serving as UK PM Gordon Brown was on the trail in 2010, he faced a voter who questioned him on immigration and the economy.

Still wired up to a Sky news microphone when he entered the car, Brown was heard saying: "That went terribly – they should never have put me with that individual. Who thought of that? Ridiculous."

Asked what she had said, he answered: "All topics, she was just a prejudiced person."

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

'I Can't Stand Netanyahu. He Lies.'

Former US president Barack Obama was in discussion at the G20 summit in Cannes in 2011 with France's leader Nicolas Sarkozy when their comments about Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu were picked up by a active recording device.

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

Per a account from a French interpreter quoted by Reuters, Obama replied: "You've had enough but I must work with him more often than you."

'Major League ***hole'

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

The Republican presidential nominee was unaware that a recording device was active when he turned to Dick Cheney at a Labor Day rally and remarked, "There's Adam Clymer, major league asshole from the New York Times."

Cheney responded: "Absolutely, he is, big time."

Bush at a political gathering in 2000
Holly Larson
Holly Larson

A seasoned journalist with a passion for uncovering stories that matter, bringing years of experience in digital media and investigative reporting.