Blunders From Global Leaders Believing No One Is Listening

This week, Indonesia's President Prabowo Subianto believed he was a private conversation with American leader Donald Trump at the Gaza peace summit in Egypt.

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

It represented only one in a string of gaffes committed by international figures when they assume they're off the record.

Here are several additional noteworthy blunders:

Transplant Procedures and Everlasting Life

At a military parade in Beijing this September, China's leader Xi Jinping and Russia's head Vladimir Putin were overheard discussing organ transplants as a approach for extending lifespan.

"Human 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 off camera, answered in Chinese: "Experts forecast that in the current era humans may live to 150 years old."

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

'Sea Rising at Your Door'

Ex-Australia border protection chief Peter Dutton faced criticism in 2015 when he made light about the situation of residents in the Pacific facing rising sea levels.

Dutton was conversing with then-prime minister Tony Abbott, who had just returned from climate change talks with Pacific Island leaders in Port Moresby.

Noting that a migration discussion was running on "delayed schedule", Abbott responded: "We had a bit of that up in Port Moresby."

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

The comments provoked anger from Pacific Islands and environmentalists, while the political opponents called for Dutton to issue an apology.

Peter Dutton overheard joking with Tony Abbott about rising sea levels

'Bigoted Woman'

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

Remaining connected to a Sky news microphone when he entered the car, Brown was heard saying: "That was a disaster – they should not have placed me with that individual. Who thought of that? Ridiculous."

When questioned about she had said, he answered: "Everything, she was just a prejudiced person."

This incident dominated headlines for an extended period and Brown went on to lose the political race.

'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 France's leader Nicolas Sarkozy when their comments about Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu were captured by a live microphone.

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

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

'Major League ***hole'

A classic recording incident from former White House hopeful George W. Bush occurred when he made a negative comment about a journalist from The New York Times.

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

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

Bush at a Labour rally in 2000
Jodi Cooper
Jodi Cooper

A certified mindfulness coach with over a decade of experience helping individuals achieve mental clarity and emotional balance through simple practices.