Blunders Made by Global Heads of State Believing They're in Private

This week, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto believed he was a private conversation with American leader 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, both of whom serve as executives at the Trump organization.

It represented only one in a string of gaffes made by world leaders when they assume no one can hear them.

Here are five other noteworthy blunders:

Transplant Procedures and Immortality

During a defense ceremony in Beijing in early autumn, China's leader Xi Jinping and Russia's head Vladimir Putin were overheard talking about organ transplants as a approach for extending lifespan.

"Vital organs can be continuously transplanted. The more you extend your life, the younger you become, and you can even reach eternal life," Putin's interpreter was heard saying.

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

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

'Water Lapping at Your Door'

Ex-Australia border protection chief Peter Dutton faced criticism in 2015 when he joked about the plight of people in the Pacific experiencing ocean encroachment.

Dutton was speaking to then-prime minister Tony Abbott, who had just returned from climate change talks with Pacific Island leaders 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 commented: "Time doesn't mean anything when you're about to have the ocean reaching your home."

These remarks sparked outrage from regional nations and environmentalists, while the political opponents demanded Dutton to apologise.

Peter Dutton overheard joking with Tony Abbott about coastal flooding

'Prejudiced Voter'

As Labour prime minister Gordon Brown was on the trail in 2010, he faced a constituent who questioned him on migration and the economic situation.

Remaining connected to a Sky news microphone when he got into his vehicle, Brown was heard saying: "That was a disaster – they should never have put me with that individual. Who thought of that? Ridiculous."

Asked what she had said, he answered: "Everything, she was just a bigoted woman."

This incident dominated headlines for weeks and Brown ultimately lost the election.

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

Former US president Barack Obama was in conversation at the G20 summit in Cannes in 2011 with then French president Nicolas Sarkozy when their comments about Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu were captured by a live microphone.

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

Per a version from a translator cited by Reuters, Obama responded: "You're fed up with him but I must work with him frequently than you."

'Major League ***hole'

A vintage 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 didn't realize that a microphone was live when he leaned over to Dick Cheney at a political event and remarked, "That's Adam Clymer, complete jerk from the New York Times."

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

Bush at a Labour rally in 2000
Jeanette Petty
Jeanette Petty

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