Not just Biden on Fox News, these 5 world leaders too had a bad hot mic moment
Remember the god-awful moment you have to go through when you are talking about someone and that particular person is standing right behind you, overhearing everything? US President Joe Biden just experienced it. Although fair warning, his was far funnier than any of my 'hot mic' moments have ever been.
Biden was caught on a 'hot mic', apparently referring to Fox News White House reporter Peter Doocy as a 'stupid son of a b**ch'. As journalists left a meeting, Doocy asked whether Biden thought inflation was a political liability ahead of the midterms. Responding sarcastically Biden said, "No, it’s a great asset – more inflation." Apparently not realising his microphone was still on, Biden added, 'What a stupid son of a b**ch' to his response.
For those who don't know, a hot mic is when a microphone is turned on, in particular, one that amplifies or broadcasts a spoken remark that was intended to be private.
But Biden isn't the only world leader to be caught in hot water. Although, it is a golden rule in politics to always check the mic before speaking, some politicians have forgotten about it at times and given the world some truly astonishing moments to remember.
Here are 5 that really took us by surprise:
1. QUEEN ELIZABETH CALLS LEADERS 'IRRITATING' DURING COP26 SUMMIT
During a conversation with the Duchess of Cornwall and Elin Jones, presiding officer of the Welsh Parliament in 2021, Queen Elizabeth was caught in a hot mic moment. The British monarch called leaders attending the COP26 summit irritating, for not walking the talk on climate change (pretty sure most agree with her). She was quoted as saying, "I’ve been hearing all about COP. Still don’t know who is coming. No idea. It’s really irritating when they talk, but they don’t do."
To this, Jones replied, "Exactly. It’s a time for doing ... and watching your grandson [Prince William] on the television this morning saying there’s no point going to space, we need to save the Earth."
2. JUSTIN TRUDEAU GOSSIPS ABOUT DONALD TRUMP
During a royal reception for NATO leaders at Buckingham Palace in 2019, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, French President Emmanuel Macron, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, Princess Anne and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson were caught discussing their bizarre experiences of a joint appearance with the then US President Donald Trump.
"Is that why you were late?" Johnson allegedly asked Macron. On Macron's behalf, Trudeau replied, "He was late because he [Trump] takes a 40-minute press conference off the top. You just watched his team’s jaws drop to the floor."
To no one's surprise, Trump later called Trudeau "two-faced" and claimed that the Canadian PM didn't like him because he wanted Ottawa to hit its 2 percent NATO target.
3. DAVID CAMERON HAPPILY HUMS AFTER RESIGNING AS BRITISH PM
After losing the Brexit referendum in 2016, British Prime Minister David Cameron gave a resignation speech in front of 10, Downing Street. He ended the speech by saying, "Thank you very much" and started the walk back to the door. To everyone’s surprise, the clip-on microphone then caught the newly resigned prime minister humming a merry tune seconds later.
Some argued that it sounded like a tune from Winnie the Pooh, while others said it sounded like the start of the West Wing theme. Here's the clip:
To be fair, you really can't blame him.
4. NEED SPACE, SAYS OBAMA
Back in South Korea in 2012, following a 90-minute meeting with the then outgoing Russian President Dmitri Medvedev, the then US President Barack Obama was caught in a hot mic. As the leaders huddled together to quietly discuss missile defence between the two countries, journalists overheard Obama telling Medvedev to give him "space". (Yeah, I need it too.)
He was caught saying, "This is my last election ... After my election I have more flexibility." Medvedev responded, "I understand. I will transmit this information to Vladimir [Putin]." The conversation was reportedly in context to the planned anti-ballistic shield system which had been a cause of debate between the US and Russia for years.
5. PRINCE CHARLES EXPRESSES DISDAIN FOR JOURNALISTS
During a photo call for Prince Charles's wedding to Camilla Parker Bowles, 50 journalists gathered at Klosters, a Swiss ski resort, and the future King simply failed to hide his contempt. During the shoot, Prince Charles was caught saying, "I hate doing this ... I hate these people" to his sons Prince Harry and William.
He was unaware that his microphone was picking up every word at the time.
On the same day, when asked by the BBC's royal correspondent Nicholas Witchell about how he felt about his upcoming wedding, Charles responded sarcastically, "I'm very glad you've heard of it, anyway." Apparently, he then turned his head slightly towards Prince Harry and whispered, "Bloody people. I can't bear that man. He's so awful, he really is."