Slip-ups Made by World Leaders Believing They're in Private

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

Instead, a live microphone situation captured Prabowo asking Trump to organize a meeting with his son Don Jr, both of whom hold positions at the family business.

This was just one in a series of missteps committed by world leaders thinking no one can hear them.

Here are several additional noteworthy blunders:

Transplant Procedures and Immortality

At a military parade in Beijing this September, China's leader Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin were overheard talking about organ replacement as a method for extending lifespan.

"Vital organs can be continuously replaced. The more you extend your life, the younger you become, and it's possible to even reach eternal life," the Russian translator was heard saying.

Xi, who was off camera, answered in Chinese: "Experts forecast that in the current era people may live to 150 years old."

Dialogue recorded from Chinese president Xi Jinping and Moscow's head 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 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 regional heads in Port Moresby.

Observing how a meeting about refugees was running on "delayed schedule", Abbott responded: "We had 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 provoked anger from regional nations and environmentalists, while the political opponents called for Dutton to issue an apology.

Peter Dutton overheard joking with Tony Abbott about rising sea levels

'Bigoted Woman'

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

Still wired up to a broadcast microphone when he got into his vehicle, Brown was recorded stating: "That was a disaster – they should never have put me with that woman. Who thought of that? Absurd."

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

The scandal received extensive coverage for an extended period and Brown went on to lose the political race.

'I Can't Stand Netanyahu. He's a Liar.'

Ex-American leader Barack Obama was in discussion at the G20 summit in Cannes in 2011 with then French president Nicolas Sarkozy when their comments about Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu were captured by a live microphone.

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

According to a version from a translator quoted by Reuters, Obama responded: "You're fed up with him but I must work with him frequently than you."

'Major League ***hole'

A vintage hot-mic moment from former White House hopeful George W. Bush happened as he made a disparaging remark about a journalist from The New York Times.

The GOP candidate was unaware that a microphone was live when he turned to Dick Cheney at a political event and said, "There's Adam Clymer, complete jerk from the New York Times."

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

Bush at a Labour rally in 2000
Gary Wilkinson
Gary Wilkinson

Award-winning journalist with a passion for uncovering truth and delivering compelling narratives.