Slip-ups From Global Heads of State When They Think No One Is Listening

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

Instead, a hot-mic incident captured Prabowo requesting Trump to organize a meeting with his son Don Jr, both of whom serve as executives at the Trump organization.

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

Below are several additional noteworthy blunders:

Organ Transplants and Everlasting Life

During a defense ceremony in Beijing in early autumn, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin were overheard discussing organ transplants as a method for prolonging life.

"Human 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, responded in Chinese: "Some predict that in the current era people may reach 150 years old."

Dialogue recorded from Chinese president Xi Jinping and Russian leader Vladimir Putin

'Water Lapping at Your Door'

Former Australian immigration minister Peter Dutton came under fire in 2015 when he joked about the plight of residents in the Pacific experiencing ocean encroachment.

Dutton was speaking to then-prime minister Tony Abbott, who had recently come back from environmental talks with Pacific Island leaders in Port Moresby.

Observing how a migration discussion was running on "Cape York time", Abbott responded: "There was 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 environmentalists, while the opposition Labor party called for Dutton to apologise.

Peter Dutton overheard joking with Tony Abbott about coastal flooding

'Bigoted Woman'

As Labour prime minister Gordon Brown was campaigning in 2010, he encountered a voter who challenged him on migration and the economic situation.

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 woman. Who thought of that? Ridiculous."

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

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

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

Former US president Barack Obama was in discussion at the G20 summit in Cannes in 2011 with then French president Nicolas Sarkozy when their comments about Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu were picked up by a live microphone.

Sarkozy stated: "I cannot bear Netanyahu. He deceives."

According to a version from a translator cited by Reuters, Obama responded: "You've had enough but I have to deal with him frequently than you."

'Major League ***hole'

A classic recording incident from former White House hopeful 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 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: "Oh yeah, he is, definitely."

Bush at a political gathering in 2000
Jason Garrett
Jason Garrett

A tech enthusiast and business strategist with over a decade of experience in digital transformation and startup consulting.