Blunders From World Heads of State When They Think They're in Private

This week, Indonesia's leader Prabowo Subianto believed he was a private conversation with American leader Donald Trump during Middle East peace talks in Egypt.

However, a live microphone situation revealed Prabowo asking Trump to organize a call with his son Eric, both of whom serve as executives at the family business.

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

Below are five other memorable blunders:

Transplant Procedures and Immortality

During a defense ceremony in Beijing this September, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin were recorded talking about organ replacement as a approach for extending lifespan.

"Human organs can be repeatedly transplanted. The longer you live, the younger you become, and you can even reach eternal life," the Russian translator was heard saying.

Xi, who was not visible, answered in Chinese: "Experts forecast that in the current era people may reach 150 years old."

A conversation recorded from 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 joked about the situation of residents in the Pacific facing rising sea levels.

Dutton was conversing with former PM Tony Abbott, who had just returned from climate change talks with Pacific Island leaders in Port Moresby.

Noting that a migration discussion was running on "delayed schedule", Abbott responded: "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."

The comments sparked outrage from Pacific Islands and environmentalists, while the political opponents called for Dutton to apologise.

Peter Dutton overheard joking with Tony Abbott about rising sea levels

'Bigoted Woman'

As Labour prime minister Gordon Brown was on the trail in 2010, he encountered a constituent who challenged him on migration and the economy.

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

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

This incident received extensive coverage for an extended period and Brown ultimately lost the election.

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

Ex-American leader Barack Obama was in conversation at the international conference in Cannes in 2011 with France's leader Nicolas Sarkozy when their comments about Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu were picked up by a live microphone.

Sarkozy said: "I can't stand Netanyahu. He deceives."

According to a account from a translator cited by Reuters, Obama responded: "You've had enough 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 occurred when he made a disparaging remark about a journalist from The New York Times.

The Republican presidential nominee was didn't realize that a microphone was live when he turned to Dick Cheney at a Labor Day rally and remarked, "There's Adam Clymer, major league asshole from the New York Times."

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

Bush at a political gathering in 2000
Sarah Campbell
Sarah Campbell

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