Blunders From World Heads of State Believing No One Is Listening

This week, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto believed he was a confidential discussion with American leader Donald Trump during Middle East peace talks 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 Trump organization.

This was just one in a string of missteps committed by international figures thinking they're off the record.

Here are several additional noteworthy blunders:

Organ Transplants and Everlasting Life

During a defense ceremony in Beijing in early autumn, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russia's head Vladimir Putin were overheard discussing organ transplants as a approach for extending lifespan.

"Human organs can be continuously transplanted. The more you extend your life, the more youthful you get, and it's possible to even achieve immortality," Putin's interpreter was recorded stating.

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

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

'Sea Rising at Your Door'

Ex-Australia immigration minister Peter Dutton came under fire in 2015 when he made light about the plight of residents in the Pacific experiencing ocean encroachment.

Dutton was conversing with former PM Tony Abbott, who had just returned from climate change talks with regional heads in Port Moresby.

Observing how a meeting about refugees was running on "delayed schedule", Abbott replied: "We had a similar situation up in Port Moresby."

Dutton commented: "Schedules become irrelevant when you're about to have the ocean reaching your home."

The comments provoked anger from Pacific Islands and environmentalists, while the opposition Labor party called for Dutton to apologise.

Peter Dutton recorded making jokes with Tony Abbott about coastal flooding

'Bigoted Woman'

As Labour prime minister Gordon Brown was campaigning in 2010, he faced a voter who questioned him on migration and the economic situation.

Still wired up to a broadcast microphone when he got into his vehicle, Brown was recorded stating: "That went terribly – they should not have placed me with that woman. Who thought of that? Absurd."

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

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

'I Can't Stand Netanyahu. He Lies.'

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

Sarkozy stated: "I can't stand Netanyahu. He's a liar."

According to a version from a French interpreter cited by Reuters, Obama replied: "You're fed up with him but I must work with him more often than you."

'Total ***hole'

A vintage recording incident from former White House hopeful George W. Bush happened as he made a negative comment 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 Labor Day rally and said, "That's Adam Clymer, major league asshole from the New York Times."

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

Bush at a political gathering in 2000
Kathleen Marks
Kathleen Marks

Environmental scientist and sustainability advocate passionate about sharing eco-friendly solutions.