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

This week, Indonesia's President Prabowo Subianto believed he was a confidential discussion with US President Donald Trump during Middle East peace talks in Egypt.

However, a live microphone situation captured Prabowo requesting Trump to arrange a meeting with his son Don Jr, both of whom serve as executives at the Trump organization.

It represented only one in a series of gaffes made by world leaders when they assume no one can hear them.

Below are five other memorable errors:

Organ Transplants and Everlasting Life

At a military parade in Beijing in early autumn, China's leader Xi Jinping and Russia's head Vladimir Putin were recorded discussing organ transplants as a approach for prolonging life.

"Vital organs can be continuously transplanted. The more you extend your life, the more youthful you get, and you can even achieve immortality," the Russian translator was recorded stating.

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

Dialogue heard between China's leader Xi Jinping and Moscow's head Vladimir Putin

'Sea Rising at Your Door'

Ex-Australia immigration minister Peter Dutton came under fire in 2015 when he made light about the plight of residents in the Pacific experiencing ocean encroachment.

Dutton was speaking to former PM Tony Abbott, who had recently come back from climate change talks with regional heads in Port Moresby.

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

Dutton commented: "Schedules become irrelevant when you're about to have the ocean reaching your home."

These remarks provoked anger from Pacific Islands and climate activists, while the opposition Labor party called for Dutton to apologise.

Peter Dutton recorded making jokes with Tony Abbott about coastal flooding

'Bigoted Woman'

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

Remaining connected to a broadcast microphone when he got into his vehicle, Brown was heard saying: "That was a disaster – they should not have placed me with that woman. Whose idea was that? Ridiculous."

Asked what she had said, he replied: "All topics, she was just a prejudiced person."

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

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

Ex-American leader Barack Obama was in discussion at the G20 summit in Cannes in 2011 with France's leader Nicolas Sarkozy when their remarks about Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu were picked up by a live microphone.

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

According to a account from a translator quoted by Reuters, Obama replied: "You're fed up with him but I must work with him more often than you."

'Total ***hole'

A classic recording incident from former White House hopeful 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 recording device was active when he turned to Dick Cheney at a Labor Day rally and said, "There's Adam Clymer, complete jerk from the New York Times."

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

Bush at a political gathering in 2000
Courtney Payne
Courtney Payne

A digital designer and tech enthusiast passionate about sharing innovative web solutions and trends.