Slip-ups From World Heads of State Believing They're in Private

Recently, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto believed he was a confidential discussion with American leader Donald Trump during Middle East peace talks in Egypt.

Instead, a live microphone situation revealed Prabowo asking Trump to arrange a call with his son Don Jr, who hold positions at the family business.

It represented only one in a series of gaffes made by world leaders when they assume they're off the record.

Below are five other memorable errors:

Organ Transplants and Everlasting Life

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 method for prolonging life.

"Vital organs can be repeatedly transplanted. The longer you live, the more youthful you get, and it's possible to even reach eternal life," Putin's interpreter was recorded stating.

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

Dialogue heard between Chinese president Xi Jinping and Russian leader Vladimir Putin

'Water Lapping at Your Door'

Ex-Australia border protection chief Peter Dutton came under fire in 2015 when he joked about the situation of residents in the Pacific facing ocean encroachment.

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

Noting that a migration discussion was running on "delayed schedule", Abbott replied: "There was 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."

The comments 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

'Bigoted Woman'

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

Still wired up to a Sky news microphone when he entered the car, Brown was recorded stating: "That was a disaster – they should not have placed me with that woman. Who thought of that? Ridiculous."

Asked what she had said, he replied: "Everything, she was just a bigoted woman."

This incident received extensive coverage for weeks 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 Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu were picked up by a live microphone.

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

According to a account from a translator cited by Reuters, Obama responded: "You're fed up with him but I have to deal with him more often than you."

'Total ***hole'

A classic recording incident from then US presidential candidate 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 leaned over to Dick Cheney at a Labor Day rally and remarked, "That's Adam Clymer, complete jerk from the New York Times."

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

Bush at a political gathering in 2000
Dwayne Willis
Dwayne Willis

A passionate writer and productivity coach dedicated to helping others unlock their full potential through mindful practices.