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

Recently, Indonesia's leader Prabowo Subianto believed he was a private conversation with US President Donald Trump at the Gaza peace summit in Egypt.

Instead, a live microphone situation captured Prabowo asking Trump to arrange a call with his son Don Jr, who serve as executives at the Trump organization.

This was just one in a series of gaffes committed by international figures when they assume they're off the record.

Below are several additional noteworthy errors:

Organ Transplants and Immortality

During a defense ceremony in Beijing in early autumn, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russia's head Vladimir Putin were recorded talking about organ replacement as a method for extending lifespan.

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

Xi, who was not visible, responded in Chinese: "Experts forecast that in this century people may reach 150 years old."

A conversation heard between Chinese president Xi Jinping and Russian leader Vladimir Putin

'Sea Rising at Your Door'

Former Australian border protection chief Peter Dutton came under fire in 2015 when he joked 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 environmental talks with regional heads in Port Moresby.

Observing how a meeting about refugees was running on "delayed schedule", Abbott replied: "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 provoked anger from Pacific Islands and climate activists, while the opposition Labor party demanded Dutton to issue an apology.

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

'Prejudiced Voter'

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

Remaining connected 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 individual. Who thought of that? Ridiculous."

Asked what 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 Cannot Bear Netanyahu. He's a Liar.'

Ex-American leader Barack Obama was in discussion at the international conference in Cannes in 2011 with France's leader Nicolas Sarkozy when their comments about Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu were captured by a active recording device.

Sarkozy said: "I cannot bear Netanyahu. He deceives."

According to a version from a French interpreter cited by Reuters, Obama replied: "You're fed up with him but I have to deal with him frequently than you."

'Total ***hole'

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

Cheney responded: "Absolutely, he is, big time."

Bush at a Labour rally in 2000
Lauren Larsen
Lauren Larsen

Award-winning photographer with a passion for capturing stunning landscapes and sharing practical advice for enthusiasts.