Gaffes From Global Leaders Believing No One Is Listening

This week, Indonesia's leader Prabowo Subianto thought he was having a private conversation with American leader Donald Trump during Middle East peace talks in Egypt.

However, a live microphone situation captured Prabowo asking Trump to organize a meeting with his son Eric, who hold positions at the Trump organization.

It represented only one in a string of gaffes committed by international figures thinking they're off the record.

Here are five other memorable blunders:

Transplant Procedures and Immortality

During a defense ceremony in Beijing this September, China's leader Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin were recorded talking about organ transplants as a approach for extending lifespan.

"Human organs can be repeatedly transplanted. The more you extend your life, the more youthful you get, and you can even reach eternal life," Putin's interpreter was heard saying.

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

A conversation recorded from China's leader Xi Jinping and Moscow's head Vladimir Putin

'Sea Rising at Your Door'

Former Australian immigration minister Peter Dutton came under fire in 2015 when he joked about the situation of people in the Pacific facing ocean encroachment.

Dutton was conversing with former PM Tony Abbott, who had recently come back from environmental talks with Pacific Island leaders in Port Moresby.

Observing how a migration discussion was running on "Cape York time", 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."

The comments sparked outrage from regional nations and environmentalists, while the opposition Labor party demanded Dutton to apologise.

Peter Dutton overheard joking with Tony Abbott about rising sea levels

'Bigoted Woman'

While serving as UK PM Gordon Brown was on the trail in 2010, he encountered a constituent who challenged him on migration and the economy.

Still wired up to a broadcast microphone when he got into his vehicle, Brown was heard saying: "That went terribly – they should not have placed me with that individual. Whose idea was that? Absurd."

When questioned about she had said, he answered: "All topics, she was just a bigoted woman."

This incident received extensive coverage for weeks and Brown ultimately lost the political race.

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

Former US president Barack Obama was in conversation 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 said: "I can't stand Netanyahu. He's a liar."

Per a version from a French interpreter 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 occurred when he made a disparaging remark about a journalist from The New York Times.

The Republican presidential nominee was unaware that a microphone was live when he leaned over to Dick Cheney at a political event and remarked, "There's Adam Clymer, major league asshole from the New York Times."

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

Bush at a political gathering in 2000
Keith Jordan
Keith Jordan

A wellness coach and writer passionate about helping others achieve balance and growth through mindful practices.