Blunders Made by Global Heads of State Believing No One Is Listening

This week, Indonesia's President Prabowo Subianto thought he was having a private conversation with US President Donald Trump during Middle East peace talks in Egypt.

However, a hot-mic incident captured Prabowo asking Trump to arrange a meeting with his son Eric, who serve as executives 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 several additional memorable blunders:

Organ Transplants and Everlasting Life

During a defense ceremony in Beijing this September, China's leader Xi Jinping and Russia's head Vladimir Putin were overheard talking about organ replacement as a method for extending lifespan.

"Human organs can be repeatedly replaced. The longer you live, the younger you become, and you can even achieve immortality," the Russian translator was recorded stating.

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

A conversation heard between Chinese president Xi Jinping and Moscow's head Vladimir Putin

'Sea Rising at Your Door'

Former Australian immigration minister Peter Dutton faced criticism in 2015 when he joked about the situation of people in the Pacific experiencing ocean encroachment.

Dutton was conversing with former PM Tony Abbott, who had just returned from environmental talks with regional heads in Port Moresby.

Observing how a migration discussion was running on "Cape York time", Abbott responded: "There was a bit of that up in Port Moresby."

Dutton added: "Time doesn't mean anything when you're about to have water lapping at your door."

The comments provoked anger from regional nations and climate activists, while the opposition Labor party called for Dutton to issue an apology.

Peter Dutton overheard joking with Tony Abbott about rising sea levels

'Prejudiced Voter'

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

Still wired up to a broadcast microphone when he entered the car, Brown was heard saying: "That was a disaster – they should never have put me with that woman. Whose idea was that? Ridiculous."

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

This incident dominated headlines for weeks and Brown went on to lose 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 then French president Nicolas Sarkozy when their remarks about Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu were captured by a live microphone.

Sarkozy said: "I can't stand Netanyahu. He's a liar."

Per a version from a French interpreter cited by Reuters, Obama replied: "You're fed up with him but I have to deal with him frequently than you."

'Total ***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 didn't realize that a recording device was active when he turned to Dick Cheney at a Labor Day rally and said, "There's Adam Clymer, complete jerk from the New York Times."

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

Bush at a Labour rally in 2000
Paul Thomas
Paul Thomas

Tech enthusiast and digital strategist with a passion for emerging technologies and their impact on society.