Blunders Made by Global Leaders When They Think They're in Private

This week, Indonesia's leader Prabowo Subianto thought he was having a confidential discussion with US President Donald Trump during Middle East peace talks in Egypt.

Instead, a live microphone situation captured Prabowo asking Trump to organize a call with his son Eric, who hold positions at the family business.

It represented only one in a string of gaffes made by world leaders when they assume they're off the record.

Here are five other noteworthy blunders:

Organ Transplants and Immortality

At a military parade in Beijing in early autumn, China's leader Xi Jinping and Russia's head Vladimir Putin were recorded discussing organ replacement as a method for extending lifespan.

"Vital organs can be continuously transplanted. The more you extend your life, the younger you become, 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 reach 150 years old."

Dialogue heard between China's leader Xi Jinping and Russian leader Vladimir Putin

'Sea Rising at Your Door'

Former Australian immigration minister 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 just returned from environmental talks with regional heads in Port Moresby.

Noting that a meeting about refugees was running on "delayed schedule", Abbott responded: "There was a similar situation up in Port Moresby."

Dutton added: "Schedules become irrelevant when you're about to have the ocean reaching your home."

These remarks provoked anger from regional nations and climate activists, while the political opponents 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 constituent who questioned him on migration and the economy.

Remaining connected to a broadcast microphone when he got into his vehicle, Brown was heard saying: "That went terribly – they should not have placed me with that woman. Whose idea was that? Ridiculous."

When questioned about she had said, he replied: "Everything, she was just a bigoted woman."

This incident dominated headlines for weeks 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 comments about Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu were captured by a live microphone.

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

Per a account from a translator cited by Reuters, Obama responded: "You're fed up with him but I must work with him frequently than you."

'Total ***hole'

A vintage 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 Republican presidential nominee was unaware that a microphone was live when he turned to Dick Cheney at a Labor Day rally and said, "There's Adam Clymer, complete jerk from the New York Times."

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

Bush at a political gathering in 2000
Destiny Munoz
Destiny Munoz

A passionate retro gaming enthusiast and writer with years of experience in the arcade community.

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