Slip-ups Made by World Heads of State Believing They're in Private

This week, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto believed he was a private conversation with American leader Donald Trump during Middle East peace talks in Egypt.

Instead, a live microphone situation captured Prabowo requesting Trump to arrange a call with his son Eric, both of whom serve as executives at the family business.

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

Below are five other memorable errors:

Transplant Procedures and Everlasting Life

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

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

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

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

'Water Lapping at Your Door'

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

Dutton was speaking to former PM Tony Abbott, who had recently come back from climate change talks with Pacific Island leaders 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 added: "Time doesn't mean anything when you're about to have the ocean reaching your home."

The comments sparked outrage from regional nations and environmentalists, while the political opponents demanded Dutton to apologise.

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

'Prejudiced Voter'

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

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

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

This incident dominated headlines for an extended period and Brown ultimately lost the political race.

'I Cannot Bear Netanyahu. He Lies.'

Ex-American leader Barack Obama was in discussion at the G20 summit 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 deceives."

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."

'Major League ***hole'

A vintage recording incident from then US presidential candidate George W. Bush happened as he made a disparaging remark about a journalist from The New York Times.

The Republican presidential nominee was didn't realize that a microphone was live when he turned to Dick Cheney at a political event and said, "That'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
Jimmy Craig
Jimmy Craig

A passionate audio engineer and music producer with over a decade of experience in studio recording and live sound.