Gaffes Made by Global Heads of State Believing No One Is Listening

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

Instead, a live microphone situation revealed Prabowo requesting Trump to organize a call with his son Don Jr, who serve as executives at the family business.

It represented only one in a series of gaffes committed by international figures thinking they're off the record.

Here are several additional noteworthy errors:

Organ Transplants and Immortality

At a military parade in Beijing in early autumn, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin were overheard discussing organ replacement as a method for extending lifespan.

"Human organs can be repeatedly replaced. The longer you live, the more youthful you get, and you can even reach eternal life," the Russian translator was heard saying.

Xi, who was not visible, responded in Chinese: "Some predict that in this century people may live to 150 years old."

A conversation recorded from 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 made light about the situation of residents in the Pacific experiencing ocean encroachment.

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

Noting that a migration discussion was running on "delayed schedule", Abbott replied: "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."

These remarks sparked outrage from regional nations and environmentalists, while the political opponents called for Dutton to issue an apology.

Peter Dutton recorded making jokes with Tony Abbott about rising sea levels

'Bigoted Woman'

While serving as UK PM Gordon Brown was on the trail in 2010, he encountered a voter who challenged him on migration and the economy.

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."

Asked what she had said, he answered: "All topics, 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 discussion 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 live microphone.

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

Per a account from a French interpreter cited by Reuters, Obama responded: "You've had enough but I have to deal with him frequently than you."

'Total ***hole'

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

The Republican presidential nominee was didn't realize that a microphone was live when he leaned over to Dick Cheney at a political event and said, "There's Adam Clymer, major league asshole from the New York Times."

Cheney responded: "Absolutely, that's true, big time."

Bush at a Labour rally in 2000
Jerry Cordova
Jerry Cordova

A passionate gaming enthusiast and expert reviewer with years of experience in the online casino industry.

Popular Post