Blunders From Global Heads of State Believing No One Is Listening

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

However, a live microphone situation revealed Prabowo asking Trump to arrange a call with his son Don Jr, who serve as executives at the Trump organization.

It represented only one in a string of missteps made by international figures thinking no one can hear them.

Here are five other memorable errors:

Transplant Procedures and Immortality

At a military parade in Beijing this September, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russia's head Vladimir Putin were overheard talking about organ replacement as a method for extending lifespan.

"Human organs can be repeatedly replaced. The more you extend your life, the more youthful you get, and you can even reach eternal life," Putin's interpreter was recorded stating.

Xi, who was not visible, responded in Chinese: "Experts forecast that in this century humans may reach 150 years old."

A conversation heard between Chinese president Xi Jinping and Moscow's head Vladimir Putin

'Sea Rising at Your Door'

Ex-Australia border protection chief Peter Dutton came under fire in 2015 when he joked about the plight of residents in the Pacific facing rising sea levels.

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

Observing how a meeting about refugees was running on "Cape York time", Abbott responded: "We had a bit of that up in Port Moresby."

Dutton commented: "Time doesn't mean anything when you're about to have water lapping at your door."

The comments sparked outrage from regional nations and environmentalists, 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 on the trail in 2010, he encountered a constituent who challenged him on immigration and the economic situation.

Remaining connected to a Sky news microphone when he got into his vehicle, Brown was recorded stating: "That went terribly – they should never have put me with that individual. 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 an extended period and Brown ultimately lost the political race.

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

Former US president Barack Obama was in conversation at the international conference in Cannes in 2011 with then French president Nicolas Sarkozy when their comments about Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu were captured by a live microphone.

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

According to a account from a translator cited by Reuters, Obama replied: "You've had enough but I must work with him more often than you."

'Major League ***hole'

A classic recording incident from then US presidential candidate George W. Bush happened as he made a negative comment about a reporter from The New York Times.

The GOP candidate was didn't realize that a recording device was active when he leaned over to Dick Cheney at a political event and remarked, "There's Adam Clymer, major league asshole from the New York Times."

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

Bush at a political gathering in 2000
Madison Rice
Madison Rice

Award-winning journalist with over a decade of experience in investigative reporting and political commentary.