Gaffes From World Heads of State When They Think They're in Private

Recently, Indonesian President 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 revealed Prabowo asking Trump to organize a meeting with his son Don Jr, both of whom hold positions at the family business.

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

Here are five other memorable errors:

Transplant Procedures and Everlasting Life

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

"Human organs can be continuously transplanted. The longer you live, the more youthful you get, and you can even achieve immortality," Putin's interpreter was recorded stating.

Xi, who was not visible, responded in Chinese: "Experts forecast that in this century humans may reach 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 faced criticism in 2015 when he joked about the situation 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.

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 sparked outrage from regional nations and climate activists, while the political opponents called for Dutton to apologise.

Peter Dutton recorded making jokes with Tony Abbott about coastal flooding

'Prejudiced Voter'

As Labour prime minister Gordon Brown was on the trail in 2010, he encountered a voter who challenged him on migration and the economic situation.

Still wired up to a Sky news microphone when he got into his vehicle, Brown was heard saying: "That went terribly – they should never have put me with that individual. Who thought of that? Ridiculous."

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

This incident dominated headlines for an extended period and Brown went on to lose the election.

'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 France's leader Nicolas Sarkozy when their remarks about Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu were picked up by a live microphone.

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

Per a account from a translator quoted by Reuters, Obama responded: "You're fed up with him but I must work with him more often 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 Republican presidential nominee was unaware that a recording device was active when he leaned over to Dick Cheney at a political event and said, "There's Adam Clymer, major league asshole from the New York Times."

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

Bush at a Labour rally in 2000
Charles Wilcox
Charles Wilcox

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