Slip-ups Made by Global Leaders When They Think No One Is Listening
This week, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto thought he was having a confidential discussion with American leader Donald Trump during Middle East peace talks in Egypt.
However, a live microphone situation revealed Prabowo asking Trump to organize a call with his son Don Jr, who hold positions at the Trump organization.
This was just one in a series of missteps made by international figures thinking they're off the record.
Below are several additional noteworthy errors:
Transplant Procedures and Everlasting Life
During a defense ceremony in Beijing in early autumn, China's leader Xi Jinping and Russia's head Vladimir Putin were recorded discussing organ replacement as a approach for prolonging life.
"Human organs can be repeatedly replaced. The more you extend your life, the younger you become, and you can even reach eternal life," the Russian translator was recorded stating.
Xi, who was off camera, answered in Chinese: "Experts forecast that in the current era humans may reach 150 years old."
A conversation recorded from China's leader Xi Jinping and Moscow's head Vladimir Putin
'Sea Rising at Your Door'
Former Australian immigration minister Peter Dutton came under fire in 2015 when he made light about the plight of people in the Pacific experiencing rising sea levels.
Dutton was conversing with former PM Tony Abbott, who had recently come back from environmental talks with regional heads in Port Moresby.
Observing how a meeting about refugees was running on "delayed schedule", Abbott responded: "There was a similar situation up in Port Moresby."
Dutton commented: "Time doesn't mean anything when you're about to have water lapping at your door."
These remarks provoked anger from regional nations and climate activists, while the opposition Labor party demanded Dutton to issue an apology.
Peter Dutton overheard joking with Tony Abbott about coastal flooding
'Bigoted Woman'
While serving as UK PM Gordon Brown was campaigning in 2010, he faced a constituent who challenged him on immigration and the economy.
Remaining connected to a broadcast microphone when he entered the car, Brown was recorded stating: "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: "All topics, she was just a prejudiced person."
This incident dominated headlines for weeks and Brown ultimately lost the political race.
'I Can't Stand Netanyahu. He's a Liar.'
Ex-American leader Barack Obama was in conversation at the G20 summit 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 said: "I cannot bear Netanyahu. He deceives."
According to a version from a French interpreter quoted by Reuters, Obama replied: "You're fed up with him but I must work with him more often than you."
'Major League ***hole'
A vintage hot-mic moment from then US presidential candidate George W. Bush occurred when he made a disparaging remark about a journalist from The New York Times.
The GOP candidate was didn't realize that a microphone was live when he leaned over to Dick Cheney at a political event and remarked, "There's Adam Clymer, complete jerk from the New York Times."
Cheney responded: "Oh yeah, he is, definitely."
Bush at a Labour rally in 2000