Slip-ups Made by Global Heads of State When They Think They're in Private

Recently, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto believed he was a confidential discussion with American leader Donald Trump at the Gaza peace summit in Egypt.

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

It represented only one in a string of missteps made by international figures thinking they're off the record.

Below are several additional noteworthy errors:

Transplant Procedures and Everlasting Life

During a defense ceremony in Beijing this September, China's leader Xi Jinping and Russia's head Vladimir Putin were recorded talking about organ transplants as a method for extending lifespan.

"Human organs can be continuously transplanted. The longer you live, the younger you become, and it's possible to even achieve immortality," the Russian translator was heard saying.

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

Dialogue recorded from Chinese president 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 made light about the situation of people in the Pacific facing rising sea levels.

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

Noting that a meeting about refugees was running on "Cape York time", Abbott responded: "There was a similar situation up in Port Moresby."

Dutton commented: "Time doesn't mean anything when you're about to have water lapping at your door."

These remarks sparked outrage from Pacific Islands and environmentalists, while the political opponents demanded Dutton to issue an apology.

Peter Dutton recorded making jokes with Tony Abbott about coastal flooding

'Prejudiced Voter'

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

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

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

This incident received extensive coverage 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 conversation at the international conference in Cannes in 2011 with then French president Nicolas Sarkozy when their comments about Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu were picked up by a live microphone.

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

Per a account from a French interpreter quoted by Reuters, Obama replied: "You're fed up with him but I have to deal with him more often than you."

'Total ***hole'

A vintage recording incident from then US presidential candidate George W. Bush occurred when he made a negative comment about a journalist from The New York Times.

The GOP candidate was unaware that a microphone was live when he leaned over to Dick Cheney at a Labor Day rally and said, "There's Adam Clymer, major league asshole from the New York Times."

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

Bush at a political gathering in 2000
Nicholas Lucas
Nicholas Lucas

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