Gaffes Made by Global Leaders When They Think They're in Private

Recently, Indonesian leader Prabowo Subianto believed he was a confidential discussion with US President Donald Trump during Middle East peace talks in Egypt.

Instead, a live microphone situation revealed Prabowo asking Trump to organize a meeting with his son Eric, both of whom hold positions at the family business.

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

Below are five other noteworthy errors:

Organ Transplants and Everlasting Life

At a military parade in Beijing in early autumn, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russia's head Vladimir Putin were overheard discussing organ transplants as a approach for prolonging life.

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

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 immigration minister Peter Dutton faced criticism in 2015 when he joked about the plight of people in the Pacific experiencing ocean encroachment.

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

Dutton commented: "Schedules become irrelevant when you're about to have water lapping at your door."

The comments provoked anger from Pacific Islands and environmentalists, while the political opponents called for 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 economy.

Remaining connected to a Sky news microphone when he entered the car, Brown was recorded stating: "That was a disaster – they should never have put me with that individual. Who thought of that? Ridiculous."

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

This incident received extensive coverage for weeks and Brown ultimately lost 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 then French president Nicolas Sarkozy when their comments about Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu were picked up by a live microphone.

Sarkozy said: "I can't stand Netanyahu. He deceives."

According to a account from a French interpreter quoted by Reuters, Obama replied: "You've had enough but I must work with him frequently than you."

'Major League ***hole'

A vintage recording incident from former White House hopeful George W. Bush happened as he made a negative comment about a reporter from The New York Times.

The GOP candidate was unaware that a microphone was live when he leaned over to Dick Cheney at a political event and said, "That's Adam Clymer, major league asshole from the New York Times."

Cheney responded: "Oh yeah, he is, big time."

Bush at a Labour rally in 2000