Xi-Putin discuss immortality, Trump boasts about groping women… Scandalous hot-mic moments in history

Always assume the microphone is switched on. It’s a rule that world leaders must remember, but often forget. And it’s thanks to their forgetfulness that we have been able to listen in on the most unguarded, and sometimes embarrassing, moments from towering personalities, including royalty.

For instance, the whole world listened in when China’s Xi Jinping and Russia’s strongman Vladimir Putin were caught discussing organ transplants and the possibility of humans living 150 years when they met on Wednesday at China’s biggest and grandest military parade to commemorate the 80 years since the end of World War II.

Accompanied by North Korea’s Kim Jong-un, Xi and Putin were heard deep in conversation with the Russian leader’s interpreter being heard saying in Chinese, “Biotechnology is continuously developing.

“Human organs can be continuously transplanted. The longer you live, the younger you become, and [you can] even achieve immortality.”

Xi responds: “Some predict that in this century humans may live to 150 years old.”

In light of the leaders’ hot mic moment, we take a look back at other such moments from history that shine a light into international diplomacy — for better or worse.

Most ‘explosive’ hot mic moment, courtesy Reagan

Hot mic moments have been around for a really, really long time. As far back as 1984 when US President Ronald Reagan made an off-the-cuff remark about bombing Russia while testing a microphone before a scheduled radio address.

Amidst the Cold War, the US president was preparing for his weekly radio broadcast on August 11, 1984. During a test to adjust the microphones for voice level, Reagan said: “My fellow Americans, I am pleased to tell you that I have signed legislation to outlaw Russia for ever. We begin bombing in five minutes.”

While the remark wasn’t broadcast live, it was soon leaked to the media, turning a private quip into an international embarrassment. The Soviet Union forces were temporarily put on high alert in the Far East, and the comments drew condemnation from the USSR.

Many of Reagan’s detractors that the US president was an anti-communist provocateur — a reckless nuclear “cowboy” intent on provoking a conflict with the Soviet Union.

France’s Chirac stirs the pot

In 2005, French President Jacques Chirac stirred the diplomatic pot on a trip to Russia.

Not realising his microphone was on during a chat with his Russian and German counterparts, the French leader said of the United Kingdom, “You can’t trust people who cook as badly as that. After Finland, it’s the country with the worst food.”

“The only thing the British have ever done for European agriculture is mad cow disease,” he added.

The comments came at a notable time for France-Britain ties; both Chirac and Tony Blair were clashing over agricultural subsidies and France’s decision to abstain from involvement in the Iraq War.

Sarkozy’s liar gate gaffe

Jacques Chirac hasn’t been the only French president to be caught out in a hot mic moment. One can add Nicolas Sarkozy to the list.

During the 2011 G20 Summit, French President Nicolas Sarkozy was left embarrassed after he was heard bemoaning to US President Barack Obama about Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu. The private conversation, which was captured on the microphone, heard Sarkozy telling Obama, “I can’t stand him. He’s a liar,” in reference to the Israeli leader.

Obama replied, “You’re tired of him; what about me? I have to deal with him every day,” it was reported.

While the leaders remained mum on the issue, the Anti-Defamation League said it was “deeply disappointed and saddened” by the private conversation, warning that it could hurt ties between Israel and two key players in the West Asia peace process.

Trudeau caught gossiping about Trump

Justin Trudeau, Canada’s former prime minister, and US President Donald Trump have had rocky ties.

Perhaps, the worst moment in their relationship came in 2019 when the Canadian PM was caught on camera at a Buckingham Palace reception for Nato seemingly trash talking President Donald Trump. On the video, where audio is heard intermittently, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson asks French President Emmanuel Macron, “Is that why you were late?”

But it is Trudeau who interrupts to say, “He was late because he takes a … 40-minute press conference at the top.”

⚡️Donald Trump confirms he will ‘consider withdrawing the US from NATO’ – NBC’s Meet The Press

While others smile for the cameras, Trump may not be as welcome behind the scenes. Remember how Macron, Rutte, Johnson, and Trudeau laughed at him in 2019? pic.twitter.com/iuGLQrb4hg

— RT (@RT_com) December 8, 2024

Trudeau adds: “Oh, yeah, yeah yeah. He announced… ” before he is cut off by Macron, who speaks animatedly to the group.

The slight didn’t go down well with the US president, who then cut short his presence at the Nato meet, and went ahead and even referred to Trudeau as “two-faced”.

Biden has not one, but two hot mic moments

Former US President Joe Biden has also had hot mic moments while in office.

The first time was in 2010 when then President Barack Obama prepared to sign his signature Affordable Care Act. Then Vice President Joe Biden was caught out by an amplified microphone, telling his boss that this was a “big f***ing deal”.

He was later defended by press secretary Robert Gibbs who tweeted that yes, in fact, Biden was right.

Biden: What a stupid son of a bitch pic.twitter.com/K8H74Vfv8m

— Acyn (@Acyn) January 24, 2022

But that’s not all. Twelve years after that moment, now US President Biden once again let it rip when he called Fox News reporter Peter Doocy a “stupid son of a b**ch.” The incident when happened Doocy called out to Biden saying, “Do you think inflation is a political liability going into the midterms?”

“No, it’s a great asset,” Biden snarked. “More inflation. What a stupid son of a b**ch.”

Later, Doocy said that President Biden called to apologise shortly after the briefing ended.

Trump owns the ultimate hot mic moment

No one in history could boast of a more explosive hot mic moment than US President Donald Trump.

It was September 2005, and real estate mogul and reality TV star Donald Trump was about to appear on Access Hollywood. On a ride to the set where the segment would be filmed, he bragged to show host Billy Bush about kissing women, groping women and trying to seduce them. “When you’re a star, they let you do it,” he said.

The recordings were later obtained by The Washington Post and NBC News and aired just two days before his debate with Hillary Clinton. It led to massive outrage and prompting Trump to issue an apology. His campaign, later, dismissed the remarks as “locker room banter.”

It’s moments like these that reflect the power of the humble hot mic and also teaches us that there’s no such thing as privacy in world politics.

With inputs from agencies

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