Written by Associated Press’s Laurie Kellman
London (AP) See how powerful the inconspicuous hot mic can be.
More than two minutes of U.S. President Donald Trump and eight European leaders chit-chatting during a White House news conference about their negotiations to end Russia’s war in Ukraine were captured by the sound magnifier, a descendant of 150-year-old technology, on Monday, adding to its long history of piercing the most contrived political spectacles. Even before anyone sat down, Trump himself gave French President Emmanuel Macron the most memorable comment. After meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, the American president reflected on his remarks, saying: “As crazy as it sounds, I think he wants to make a deal for me.”
For better and sometimes worse, the way politics and diplomacy sound when the principals believe no one is listening may reveal a lot about the personalities, sense of humor, and humanity of our leaders. As well-known individuals, they have long understood what the rest of us are discovering more and more in the era of social media, Coldplay kiss cameras, and CCTV: Nobody can realistically expect privacy in public.
According to Bill McGowan, founder and CEO of Clarity Media Group in New York, “my first thought whenever I hear about a hot mic moment is that this is what they really think, that it hasn’t gone through the external communications filter.” Nothing is more genuine than what individuals say on a hot mic, which is why people adore it so much.
Long before social media, hot mics—often accompanied by video—had plagued both aspiring and established leaders. At the height of the Cold War, U.S. President Ronald Reagan famously joked about attacking the Soviet Union during a sound check for his weekly radio speech in 1984.
To my fellow citizens, Unaware that the practice run was being videotaped, Reagan joked. Today, I am happy to announce that I have signed legislation that would permanently ban Russia. Five minutes from now, we start bombing. Given the seriousness of the situation, the Soviet Union didn’t think it was humorous and denounced it.
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Putin has also succumbed to the dangers of a live microphone. He was cited in Russian media in 2006 making fun of Israel’s president, who had been accused of rape and found guilty. Putin was serious about rape, according to the Kremlin, and his meaning was mistranslated.
Sometimes there are no words at all during a hot mic situation. During his 2000 debate with George W. Bush, presidential candidate Al Gore was widely ridiculed for his loud, frustrated sighs. In others, profanity is said out for everyone to hear.
Bush was caught telling Dick Cheney, his running mate, that a New York Times reporter was a major-league jerk.
In 2010, as President Barack Obama was getting ready to sign the Affordable Care Act, then-Vice President Joe Biden reportedly remarked, “This is a big f – deal,” loud enough to be heard over a microphone.
Obama was captured on camera in South Korea telling then-Russian President Dmitri Medvedev that after his final presidential election in 2012, he will have greater freedom to address delicate problems, especially missile defense. Obama’s opponent that year, Republican Mitt Romney, referred to the exchange as a bow to the Kremlin.
Romney called the event “hot mic diplomacy” in a statement, saying that often the most illuminating moments are the ones that aren’t guarded.
Even in the most polite societies, live microphones have picked up a lot of gossip and name-calling.
During Parliament Question Time in 2022, Jacinda Ardern, the prime minister of New Zealand at the time and renowned for her ability to debate and her cool-headed, collected responses, was captured on camera making a disparaging remark about a rival politician, calling him “such an arrogant pr.”
During a visit to Russia in 2005, French President Jacques Chirac was caught on camera expressing his dislike of British cuisine. According to much publicized reports, he was heard telling Putin and Gerhard Schroder that the worst food was only found in Finland.
King Charles III of Britain decided to use comedy to handle his hot mic moment. Charles lost patience with a leaky pen while signing a paper on a live stream in 2022, not long after his coronation. He is heard complaining, “Oh, God, I detest this!” I can’t stand this bloody thing every single time, I mutter.
He had previously been plagued by another pen. In a speech the following year, he made reference to the British propensity for self-satisfaction, saying: “Just as well, you may say, given some of the vicissitudes I have faced with frustratingly failing fountain pens this past year.”
The American president is renowned for being uncontrollable in public and for occasionally using foul language while expressing his opinions. He is therefore well-liked by certain of his admirers.
However, even he struggled to hide remarks he made before to running for president from Access Hollywood in videos that threatened his campaign in the closing days of the 2016 presidential contest. It seemed that Trump was unaware that the microphone was recording.
Two days prior to his debate with Hillary Clinton, Trump boasted on recordings that were obtained by The Washington Post and NBC News about kissing, groping, and attempting to have sex with women who were not his wife. In an interview with Billy Bush, who was hosting the show at the time, the celebrity entrepreneur claimed that “when you’re a star, they let you do it.”
Trump apologized if anyone was hurt, but his campaign dismissed the remarks as locker room humor as his major backers objected.
However, viewers had a glimpse of the diplomatic game Monday from the exchanges on both sides of the East Room news conference.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyynow, who was abruptly dismissed from the White House in March, sat at the table with Trump and seven of his European counterparts, including French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
Trump gave Macron’s tan a praise. Stubb is a good golfer, he claimed. Prior to the White House pool galloping into the room, he asked if anyone wanted to ask the press questions. The shouting and scurrying made the European leaders smile.
Stubb inquired as to whether Trump had experienced this on a daily basis.
“All the time,” Trump retorted.
Meloni stated that she is unwilling to speak with the Italian media. “But Trump is game,” she said.
He adores it. He adores it, don’t you think? “I said,” she said.
