Blunders From World Leaders Believing No One Is Listening

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

However, a hot-mic incident captured Prabowo asking 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 string of missteps committed by international figures thinking they're off the record.

Below are several additional noteworthy errors:

Organ Transplants and Everlasting Life

At a military parade in Beijing this September, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin were overheard discussing organ replacement as a approach for extending lifespan.

"Human organs can be continuously replaced. 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 not visible, answered in Chinese: "Experts forecast that in this century humans may live to 150 years old."

A conversation recorded from Chinese president Xi Jinping and Russian leader Vladimir Putin

'Water Lapping at Your Door'

Ex-Australia immigration minister Peter Dutton came under fire in 2015 when he made light about the situation of people in the Pacific facing ocean encroachment.

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

Observing how a meeting about refugees was running on "Cape York time", Abbott responded: "There was a bit of that up in Port Moresby."

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

The comments sparked outrage from regional nations and climate activists, while the opposition Labor party demanded Dutton to apologise.

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 encountered a voter who challenged him on immigration and the economic situation.

Remaining connected to a Sky news microphone when he got into his vehicle, Brown was recorded stating: "That was a disaster – they should not have placed me with that individual. Whose idea was that? Ridiculous."

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

The scandal dominated headlines for an extended period and Brown ultimately lost the election.

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

Ex-American leader Barack Obama was in discussion at the international conference in Cannes in 2011 with France's leader Nicolas Sarkozy when their comments about Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu were captured by a live microphone.

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

Per a version from a French interpreter quoted by Reuters, Obama replied: "You're fed up with him but I have to deal with him more often than you."

'Total ***hole'

A classic hot-mic moment from former White House hopeful George W. Bush happened as 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 turned to Dick Cheney at a political event and said, "That's Adam Clymer, major league asshole from the New York Times."

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

Bush at a political gathering in 2000
Elizabeth Moore
Elizabeth Moore

A tech enthusiast and digital strategist with over a decade of experience in transforming businesses through innovative solutions.