Blunders From World Heads of State Believing No One Is Listening

Recently, Indonesian leader Prabowo Subianto thought he was having a confidential discussion with US President Donald Trump during Middle East peace talks in Egypt.

However, a hot-mic incident captured Prabowo requesting Trump to arrange a meeting with his son Don Jr, who hold positions at the family business.

This was just one in a string of missteps committed by world leaders when they assume they're off the record.

Below are several additional memorable errors:

Organ Transplants and Everlasting Life

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

"Vital organs can be continuously replaced. The more you extend your life, the younger you become, and you can even achieve immortality," Putin's interpreter was recorded stating.

Xi, who was off camera, answered in Chinese: "Some predict that in the current era people may reach 150 years old."

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

'Sea Rising at Your Door'

Former Australian immigration minister Peter Dutton came under fire in 2015 when he joked about the situation of people in the Pacific facing rising sea levels.

Dutton was conversing with then-prime minister Tony Abbott, who had recently come back from climate change talks with regional heads 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: "Time doesn't mean anything when you're about to have the ocean reaching your home."

These remarks provoked anger from Pacific Islands and climate activists, while the political opponents called for Dutton to apologise.

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

'Prejudiced Voter'

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

Remaining connected to a Sky news microphone when he entered the car, Brown was heard saying: "That went terribly – they should never have put me with that woman. Whose idea was that? Ridiculous."

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

The scandal dominated headlines for an extended period and Brown ultimately lost the election.

'I Cannot Bear Netanyahu. He's a Liar.'

Former US president Barack Obama was in discussion at the international conference in Cannes in 2011 with then French president Nicolas Sarkozy when their remarks about Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu were captured by a live microphone.

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

Per a account from a translator quoted 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 former White House hopeful 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 turned to Dick Cheney at a political event and remarked, "That's Adam Clymer, complete jerk from the New York Times."

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

Bush at a Labour rally in 2000
Kyle Cooper
Kyle Cooper

Tech strategist and writer passionate about AI advancements and digital solutions.