Blunders Made by World Leaders When They Think No One Is Listening

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

However, a hot-mic incident revealed Prabowo requesting Trump to organize a meeting with his son Eric, who serve as executives at the family business.

This was just one in a string of missteps committed by world leaders thinking no one can hear them.

Here are several additional memorable blunders:

Organ Transplants and Immortality

During a defense ceremony in Beijing in early autumn, China's leader Xi Jinping and Russia's head Vladimir Putin were recorded talking about organ replacement as a approach for prolonging life.

"Vital organs can be continuously replaced. The more you extend your life, the more youthful you get, and it's possible to even achieve immortality," the Russian translator was recorded stating.

Xi, who was off camera, answered in Chinese: "Experts forecast that in this century humans may live to 150 years old."

Dialogue recorded from Chinese president Xi Jinping and Moscow's head Vladimir Putin

'Sea Rising at Your Door'

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

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

Observing how a migration discussion was running on "Cape York time", Abbott responded: "We had a similar situation up in Port Moresby."

Dutton commented: "Schedules become irrelevant when you're about to have water lapping at your door."

These remarks provoked anger from regional nations and environmentalists, while the political opponents called for Dutton to apologise.

Peter Dutton overheard joking with Tony Abbott about coastal flooding

'Prejudiced Voter'

As Labour prime minister Gordon Brown was campaigning in 2010, he faced a constituent who challenged him on immigration and the economy.

Still wired up 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. Whose idea was that? Absurd."

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

The scandal received extensive coverage for weeks and Brown went on to lose 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 Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu were picked up by a active recording device.

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

Per a account from a French interpreter cited by Reuters, Obama responded: "You've had enough but I have to deal with him frequently than you."

'Major League ***hole'

A classic recording incident from then US presidential candidate George W. Bush occurred when he made a negative comment about a reporter from The New York Times.

The GOP candidate was unaware that a recording device was active when he leaned over to Dick Cheney at a Labor Day rally and said, "There's Adam Clymer, major league asshole from the New York Times."

Cheney responded: "Absolutely, that's true, definitely."

Bush at a Labour rally in 2000
Andrew Smith
Andrew Smith

A certified fitness trainer and nature enthusiast, passionate about helping others achieve wellness through outdoor adventures.