Gaffes From Global Heads of State When They Think No One Is Listening

Recently, Indonesia's President Prabowo Subianto believed he was a private conversation with American leader Donald Trump during Middle East peace talks in Egypt.

Instead, a hot-mic incident revealed Prabowo requesting Trump to organize a meeting with his son Eric, who hold positions at the family business.

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

Here are five other memorable errors:

Transplant Procedures 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.

"Human organs can be continuously transplanted. The more you extend your life, the younger you become, and it's possible to even reach eternal life," the Russian translator was heard saying.

Xi, who was off camera, responded in Chinese: "Some predict that in the current era humans may live to 150 years old."

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

'Sea Rising at Your Door'

Ex-Australia immigration minister Peter Dutton faced criticism in 2015 when he made light about the situation of residents in the Pacific experiencing 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.

Noting that a meeting about refugees was running on "delayed schedule", Abbott replied: "We had a bit of that up in Port Moresby."

Dutton added: "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 opposition Labor party demanded Dutton to issue an apology.

Peter Dutton recorded making jokes with Tony Abbott about rising sea levels

'Bigoted Woman'

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

Still wired up to a Sky news microphone when he entered the car, Brown was recorded stating: "That was a disaster – they should not have placed me with that woman. Who thought of that? Ridiculous."

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

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

'I Can't Stand Netanyahu. He's a Liar.'

Ex-American leader Barack Obama was in conversation at the international conference in Cannes in 2011 with France's leader Nicolas Sarkozy when their comments about Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu were picked up by a active recording device.

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

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

'Total ***hole'

A classic recording incident from then US presidential candidate George W. Bush happened as he made a negative comment about a journalist from The New York Times.

The GOP candidate was didn't realize that a recording device was active when he leaned over to Dick Cheney at a political event and remarked, "There's Adam Clymer, complete jerk from the New York Times."

Cheney answered: "Oh yeah, that's true, definitely."

Bush at a Labour rally in 2000
Susan French
Susan French

An experienced journalist with a passion for investigative reporting and a focus on Central European affairs.