Gaffes From Global Leaders When They Think They're in Private

Recently, Indonesia's leader Prabowo Subianto thought he was having 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 organize a call with his son Don Jr, who hold positions at the family business.

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

Here are several additional noteworthy errors:

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 overheard talking about organ transplants as a approach for prolonging life.

"Vital organs can be repeatedly transplanted. The longer you live, the more youthful you get, and you can even reach eternal life," Putin's interpreter was heard saying.

Xi, who was not visible, responded in Chinese: "Some predict 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'

Ex-Australia immigration minister Peter Dutton came under fire in 2015 when he joked about the plight of people in the Pacific experiencing ocean encroachment.

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

Observing how a meeting about refugees was running on "delayed schedule", Abbott responded: "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."

These remarks provoked anger from Pacific Islands and environmentalists, while the opposition Labor party demanded Dutton to apologise.

Peter Dutton overheard joking with Tony Abbott about rising sea levels

'Prejudiced Voter'

While serving as UK PM Gordon Brown was campaigning in 2010, he encountered a constituent who challenged him on migration and the economic situation.

Remaining connected to a Sky news microphone when he entered the car, Brown was recorded stating: "That went terribly – they should not have placed me with that woman. Who thought of that? Absurd."

When questioned about she had said, he replied: "All topics, she was just a prejudiced person."

The scandal dominated headlines for weeks and Brown went on to lose the political race.

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

Former US president 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 translator cited by Reuters, Obama responded: "You've had enough but I have to deal with him frequently than you."

'Total ***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 unaware that a recording device was active when he leaned over to Dick Cheney at a Labor Day rally and remarked, "That's Adam Clymer, major league asshole from the New York Times."

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

Bush at a Labour rally in 2000
Samuel Hobbs
Samuel Hobbs

A seasoned leadership coach with over 15 years of experience in corporate training and personal development.