🔗 Share this article

Recently, Indonesian leader Prabowo Subianto believed he was a private conversation with American leader Donald Trump during Middle East peace talks in Egypt.

Instead, a live microphone situation captured Prabowo requesting Trump to arrange a meeting with his son Eric, both of whom hold positions at the Trump organization.

This was just one in a series of missteps committed by international figures when they assume no one can hear them.

Below are five other noteworthy blunders:

Transplant Procedures and Everlasting Life

At a military parade in Beijing in early autumn, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin were overheard talking about organ replacement as a method for prolonging life.

"Human organs can be repeatedly replaced. The more you extend your life, the more youthful you get, and it's possible to even achieve immortality," the Russian translator was heard saying.

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

A conversation heard between Chinese president Xi Jinping and Russian leader Vladimir Putin

'Sea Rising at Your Door'

Ex-Australia immigration minister Peter Dutton came under fire in 2015 when he joked about the plight of residents in the Pacific experiencing rising sea levels.

Dutton was conversing with then-prime minister Tony Abbott, who had recently come back from environmental talks with Pacific Island leaders in Port Moresby.

Observing how a migration discussion was running on "Cape York time", Abbott responded: "There was a similar situation up in Port Moresby."

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

The comments sparked outrage from regional nations and climate activists, while the political opponents demanded Dutton to apologise.

Peter Dutton overheard joking 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 challenged him on migration and the economic situation.

Remaining connected to a broadcast 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 replied: "Everything, she was just a bigoted woman."

The scandal received extensive coverage for weeks and Brown went on to lose the election.

'I Cannot Bear Netanyahu. He Lies.'

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 Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu were captured by a live microphone.

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

Per a version from a French interpreter quoted by Reuters, Obama responded: "You're fed up with him but I must work with him frequently than you."

'Major League ***hole'

A classic hot-mic moment 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 recording device was active when he turned to Dick Cheney at a Labor Day rally and said, "There's Adam Clymer, major league asshole from the New York Times."

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

Bush at a political gathering in 2000