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

This week, Indonesia's President Prabowo Subianto thought he was having a private conversation with US President Donald Trump at the Gaza peace summit in Egypt.

Instead, a hot-mic incident captured Prabowo requesting Trump to arrange a call with his son Don Jr, both of whom serve as executives at the family business.

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

Here are several additional memorable blunders:

Transplant Procedures and Immortality

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

"Vital organs can be continuously replaced. The more you extend your life, the younger you become, and it's possible to even achieve immortality," the Russian translator was recorded stating.

Xi, who was not visible, responded in Chinese: "Some predict that in this century humans may live to 150 years old."

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

'Sea Rising at Your Door'

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

Dutton was conversing with then-prime minister Tony Abbott, who had just returned from climate change talks with Pacific Island leaders in Port Moresby.

Observing how a meeting about refugees was running on "delayed schedule", Abbott responded: "There was a bit of that up in Port Moresby."

Dutton commented: "Time doesn't mean anything when you're about to have the ocean reaching your home."

These remarks sparked outrage from regional nations and climate activists, while the opposition Labor party called for Dutton to apologise.

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

'Bigoted Woman'

While serving as UK PM Gordon Brown was on the trail in 2010, he faced a voter who questioned him on migration and the economic situation.

Remaining connected to a Sky news microphone when he entered the car, Brown was recorded stating: "That went terribly – they should not have placed me with that woman. Whose idea was that? Ridiculous."

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

This incident dominated headlines for an extended period and Brown ultimately lost the political race.

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

Former US president Barack Obama was in discussion at the G20 summit in Cannes in 2011 with France's leader Nicolas Sarkozy when their comments about Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu were picked up by a active recording device.

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

Per a account from a French interpreter cited by Reuters, Obama replied: "You've had enough but I must work with him frequently than you."

'Major League ***hole'

A classic recording incident from former White House hopeful George W. Bush happened as he made a disparaging remark about a reporter 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 political event and remarked, "That's Adam Clymer, complete jerk from the New York Times."

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

Bush at a Labour rally in 2000
Charles Miller
Charles Miller

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