Gaffes From World Heads of State When They Think They're in Private

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

However, a live microphone situation revealed Prabowo asking Trump to arrange a meeting with his son Don Jr, both of whom hold positions at the Trump organization.

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

Here are five other memorable blunders:

Organ Transplants and Immortality

During a defense ceremony in Beijing in early autumn, China's leader Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin were recorded talking about organ transplants as a approach for prolonging life.

"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 off camera, answered in Chinese: "Experts forecast that in this century humans may reach 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 made light about the situation of people in the Pacific facing rising sea levels.

Dutton was speaking to former PM Tony Abbott, who had just returned from climate change talks with Pacific Island leaders in Port Moresby.

Observing how a migration discussion was running on "Cape York time", Abbott replied: "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 sparked outrage from regional nations and environmentalists, while the opposition Labor party demanded Dutton to apologise.

Peter Dutton recorded making jokes with Tony Abbott about coastal flooding

'Prejudiced Voter'

While serving as UK PM Gordon Brown was on the trail in 2010, he faced a voter who questioned him on immigration and the economic situation.

Still wired up 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. Whose idea was that? Absurd."

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

This incident received extensive coverage for an extended period and Brown went on to lose the political race.

'I Can't Stand Netanyahu. He's a Liar.'

Ex-American leader Barack Obama was in conversation at the international conference in Cannes in 2011 with France's leader Nicolas Sarkozy when their comments about Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu were captured by a active recording device.

Sarkozy stated: "I can't stand 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 must work with him frequently than you."

'Major League ***hole'

A vintage recording incident from then US presidential candidate George W. Bush happened as he made a disparaging remark about a journalist from The New York Times.

The GOP candidate was didn't realize that a recording device was active when he turned to Dick Cheney at a Labor Day rally and said, "That's Adam Clymer, major league asshole from the New York Times."

Cheney answered: "Absolutely, he is, definitely."

Bush at a political gathering in 2000
Karina Burch
Karina Burch

A passionate writer and artist exploring themes of intimacy and self-expression through creative works and personal narratives.