Slip-ups From World Leaders When They Think They're in Private

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

Instead, a live microphone situation revealed Prabowo asking Trump to arrange a call with his son Eric, both of whom hold positions at the family business.

This was just one in a string of gaffes committed by world leaders when they assume they're off the record.

Here are several additional noteworthy errors:

Organ Transplants and Everlasting Life

During a defense ceremony in Beijing this September, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russia's head Vladimir Putin were overheard talking about organ transplants as a approach for prolonging life.

"Vital organs can be continuously transplanted. The longer you live, the younger you become, and you can even achieve immortality," the Russian translator was recorded stating.

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

Dialogue heard between 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 plight of residents in the Pacific experiencing rising sea levels.

Dutton was speaking to then-prime minister Tony Abbott, who had recently come back from climate change talks with regional heads in Port Moresby.

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

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

The comments provoked anger from regional nations and environmentalists, while the political opponents called for Dutton to apologise.

Peter Dutton recorded making jokes with Tony Abbott about coastal flooding

'Bigoted Woman'

While serving as UK PM Gordon Brown was on the trail in 2010, he faced a constituent who questioned him on migration and the economy.

Still wired up to a Sky news microphone when he entered the car, Brown was heard saying: "That was a disaster – they should never have put me with that woman. Whose idea was that? Absurd."

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

The scandal received extensive coverage 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 conversation at the international conference in Cannes in 2011 with then French president Nicolas Sarkozy when their remarks about Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu were captured by a active recording device.

Sarkozy stated: "I can't stand Netanyahu. He's a liar."

According to a version from a translator cited by Reuters, Obama responded: "You've had enough 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 journalist from The New York Times.

The GOP candidate was didn't realize that a microphone was live when he turned to Dick Cheney at a Labor Day rally and remarked, "That's Adam Clymer, complete jerk from the New York Times."

Cheney answered: "Absolutely, he is, big time."

Bush at a Labour rally in 2000
Teresa Greene
Teresa Greene

Travel enthusiast and local expert sharing insights on the best places to stay and visit in Bari and beyond.