Gaffes Made by Global Leaders Believing They're in Private

Recently, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto thought he was having a confidential discussion with US President Donald Trump at the Gaza peace summit in Egypt.

However, a live microphone situation revealed Prabowo requesting Trump to organize a meeting with his son Eric, both of whom hold positions at the Trump organization.

It represented only one in a series of missteps committed by international figures thinking no one can hear them.

Here are five other memorable blunders:

Transplant Procedures and Immortality

During a defense ceremony in Beijing in early autumn, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin were recorded discussing organ replacement as a approach for prolonging life.

"Human organs can be continuously replaced. The more you extend your life, the more youthful you get, and you can 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 live to 150 years old."

A conversation heard between China's leader Xi Jinping and Moscow's head Vladimir Putin

'Water Lapping at Your Door'

Former Australian immigration minister Peter Dutton faced criticism in 2015 when he joked about the plight of people in the Pacific experiencing ocean encroachment.

Dutton was speaking to former PM Tony Abbott, who had just returned from environmental talks with Pacific Island leaders in Port Moresby.

Noting that a migration discussion was running on "Cape York time", Abbott replied: "We had a bit of that up in Port Moresby."

Dutton added: "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 demanded Dutton to issue an apology.

Peter Dutton overheard joking with Tony Abbott about rising sea levels

'Prejudiced Voter'

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

Still wired up to a Sky news microphone when he entered the car, Brown was heard saying: "That went terribly – they should not have placed me with that individual. Who thought of that? Absurd."

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

The scandal dominated headlines for an extended period and Brown went on to lose the election.

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

Ex-American leader Barack Obama was in discussion at the G20 summit in Cannes in 2011 with then French president Nicolas Sarkozy when their remarks about Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu were picked up by a live microphone.

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

According to a version from a French interpreter quoted by Reuters, Obama responded: "You've had enough but I must work with him frequently than you."

'Major League ***hole'

A vintage recording incident from then US presidential candidate George W. Bush occurred when he made a disparaging remark about a reporter from The New York Times.

The GOP candidate 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, major league asshole from the New York Times."

Cheney responded: "Oh yeah, he is, big time."

Bush at a political gathering in 2000
Shelley Cole
Shelley Cole

An audio engineer and passionate sound designer with over a decade of experience in creating immersive auditory environments.