Slip-ups From World Leaders Believing No One Is Listening

This week, Indonesia's 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 revealed Prabowo requesting Trump to arrange a meeting with his son Don Jr, who hold positions at the Trump organization.

It represented only one in a string of gaffes made by world leaders thinking they're off the record.

Below are several additional memorable blunders:

Organ Transplants and Everlasting Life

At a military parade in Beijing this September, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin were recorded talking about organ transplants as a method for extending lifespan.

"Vital organs can be continuously replaced. The longer you live, the more youthful you get, and it's possible to even reach eternal life," Putin's interpreter was heard saying.

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

A conversation heard between Chinese president Xi Jinping and Moscow's head Vladimir Putin

'Water Lapping at Your Door'

Former Australian border protection chief Peter Dutton faced criticism in 2015 when he made light about the situation of people in the Pacific facing rising sea levels.

Dutton was conversing with then-prime minister Tony Abbott, who had just returned from environmental talks with regional heads in Port Moresby.

Observing how a meeting about refugees 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."

These remarks sparked outrage from Pacific Islands and environmentalists, while the opposition Labor party demanded Dutton to issue an apology.

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

'Bigoted Woman'

As Labour prime minister Gordon Brown was campaigning in 2010, he faced a voter who challenged him on immigration and the economy.

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

Asked what she had said, he answered: "Everything, she was just a prejudiced person."

This incident dominated headlines for weeks and Brown went on to lose the political race.

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

Former US president 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 captured by a active recording device.

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

According to a account from a French interpreter quoted by Reuters, Obama replied: "You've had enough but I have to deal with him frequently than you."

'Major League ***hole'

A classic hot-mic moment from then US presidential candidate George W. Bush occurred when he made a negative comment 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, "There's Adam Clymer, major league asshole from the New York Times."

Cheney responded: "Absolutely, he is, definitely."

Bush at a Labour rally in 2000
Joshua Hall
Joshua Hall

A tech enthusiast and writer with a passion for exploring innovative gadgets and sharing insights to help others navigate the digital world.