Gaffes Made by Global Leaders When They Think No One Is Listening

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

However, a live microphone situation revealed Prabowo asking Trump to organize a call with his son Eric, both of whom hold positions at the Trump organization.

It represented only one in a string of gaffes committed by international figures when they assume they're off the record.

Here are five other noteworthy errors:

Transplant Procedures and Immortality

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

"Vital organs can be continuously transplanted. The more you extend your life, the more youthful you get, and you can even reach eternal life," Putin's interpreter was recorded stating.

Xi, who was not visible, answered in Chinese: "Some predict that in the current era humans may reach 150 years old."

A conversation recorded from Chinese president Xi Jinping and Moscow's head 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 residents in the Pacific facing rising sea levels.

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

Observing how a migration discussion was running on "delayed schedule", Abbott replied: "We had a similar situation up in Port Moresby."

Dutton added: "Time doesn't mean anything when you're about to have the ocean reaching your home."

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

Peter Dutton overheard joking with Tony Abbott about coastal flooding

'Prejudiced Voter'

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

Still wired up to a Sky news microphone when he got into his vehicle, Brown was recorded stating: "That was a disaster – they should never have put me with that individual. Whose idea was that? Ridiculous."

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

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

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

Former US president Barack Obama was in conversation 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 stated: "I can't stand Netanyahu. He's a liar."

According to a account from a French interpreter cited 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 former White House hopeful George W. Bush occurred when 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 said, "That's Adam Clymer, complete jerk from the New York Times."

Cheney responded: "Oh yeah, he is, definitely."

Bush at a political gathering in 2000
Carol Young
Carol Young

A passionate designer and writer with over a decade of experience in digital art and creative education.