Blunders From World Heads of State When They Think No One Is Listening

This week, Indonesia's President Prabowo Subianto believed he was a confidential discussion with US President Donald Trump during Middle East peace talks in Egypt.

Instead, a hot-mic incident captured Prabowo requesting Trump to arrange a call with his son Don Jr, who serve as executives at the family business.

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

Below are several additional noteworthy errors:

Transplant Procedures and Everlasting Life

At a military parade in Beijing in early autumn, 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 transplanted. The longer you live, the younger you become, and you can even achieve immortality," Putin's interpreter was recorded stating.

Xi, who was off camera, answered in Chinese: "Experts forecast that in this century people may live to 150 years old."

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

'Sea Rising at Your Door'

Ex-Australia immigration minister 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 former PM Tony Abbott, who had recently come back from climate change talks with Pacific Island leaders in Port Moresby.

Noting that a migration discussion was running on "delayed schedule", Abbott replied: "We had a bit of that up in Port Moresby."

Dutton added: "Schedules become irrelevant when you're about to have water lapping at your door."

These remarks provoked anger from regional nations and climate activists, while the political opponents demanded Dutton to apologise.

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

'Prejudiced Voter'

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

Remaining connected to a broadcast microphone when he got into his vehicle, Brown was recorded stating: "That went terribly – they should never have put me with that individual. Whose idea was that? Absurd."

Asked what she had said, he replied: "Everything, she was just a prejudiced person."

This incident received extensive coverage for an extended period and Brown went on to lose the political race.

'I Can't Stand Netanyahu. He's a Liar.'

Ex-American leader Barack Obama was in discussion at the international conference in Cannes in 2011 with then French president Nicolas Sarkozy when their comments about Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu were picked up by a active recording device.

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

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

'Total ***hole'

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

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

Cheney responded: "Oh yeah, that's true, definitely."

Bush at a political gathering in 2000
Brandon Allen
Brandon Allen

An art historian and cultural enthusiast with a passion for Italian heritage and museum curation.