🔗 Share this article

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 hot-mic incident captured Prabowo requesting Trump to arrange a meeting with his son Don Jr, who serve as executives at the Trump organization.

This was just one in a string of gaffes committed by world leaders thinking no one can hear them.

Below are several additional noteworthy errors:

Transplant Procedures and Everlasting Life

At a military parade in Beijing this September, China's leader Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin were overheard talking about organ transplants as a method for prolonging life.

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

Xi, who was off camera, responded in Chinese: "Some predict that in this century humans may reach 150 years old."

Dialogue recorded from Chinese president Xi Jinping and Moscow's head Vladimir Putin

'Sea Rising at Your Door'

Former Australian border protection chief Peter Dutton faced criticism in 2015 when he made light about the situation of people in the Pacific experiencing rising sea levels.

Dutton was conversing with former PM Tony Abbott, who had just returned from climate change talks with regional heads in Port Moresby.

Noting that a meeting about refugees was running on "Cape York time", Abbott responded: "We had 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 sparked outrage from Pacific Islands and climate activists, while the opposition Labor party demanded Dutton to apologise.

Peter Dutton overheard joking with Tony Abbott about rising sea levels

'Prejudiced Voter'

As Labour prime minister Gordon Brown was campaigning in 2010, he faced a voter who challenged him on migration and the economy.

Remaining connected to a broadcast microphone when he entered the car, Brown was recorded stating: "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: "All topics, she was just a bigoted woman."

This incident dominated headlines for weeks and Brown ultimately lost the political race.

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

Ex-American leader Barack Obama was in conversation at the international conference in Cannes in 2011 with then French president Nicolas Sarkozy when their remarks about Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu were picked up by a live microphone.

Sarkozy said: "I cannot bear Netanyahu. He's a liar."

Per a account from a French interpreter cited by Reuters, Obama replied: "You're fed up with him but I have to deal with him frequently than you."

'Major League ***hole'

A classic recording incident from former White House hopeful George W. Bush occurred when he made a disparaging remark about a journalist 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 political event and said, "There's Adam Clymer, major league asshole from the New York Times."

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

Bush at a political gathering in 2000