Putin, Xi hot mic chatter sparks online frenzy: Netizen reactions

A hot mic moment catches Chinese President Xi Jinping and his counterpart from Russia Vladimir Putin discussing organ transplants and immortality, leaving netizens both surprised and skeptical.

Many users took to X (formerly Twitter) to share their reactions, mixing humor with some serious concerns.

One user joked, “72-year-olds planning their 150th birthday party while the rest of us can barely plan next week.”

While others saw it as planned.

How this short but candid exchange sparked an online frenzy—let's dive into it.

Another user raised similar suspicions, writing, “Interesting…” Xi Jinping and Putin discuss the possibility of being immortal with the use of biotechnology, continuously transplanting organs. Everyone is saying they were caught on a ‘hot mic’…as if they didn’t know they were surrounded by press. No, they knew meant for the world to hear this. What exactly?”

Third one quipped, "72-year-olds planning their 150th birthday while the rest of us can barely plan next week."

One more noted, “This was a deliberate hot mic. Putin knows exactly what he is doing. This is how the most powerful people on the planet troll each other.”

For others, the moment was a humbling reality check.

As one person put it, “Putin was caught on a hot mic discussing with Xi Jinping the possibility of immortality among humans; this shows that no matter how powerful one becomes, death remains both the greatest threat and the ultimate enemy.”

What was said by the two leaders?

As the two leaders were heading toward Tiananmen rostrum, Putin’s translator could be heard saying in Chinese, “Biotechnology is continuously developing.”

After a short inaudible passage, the translator continued:

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

Xi’s response came quickly. He was heard saying in Chinese, “Some predict that in this century humans may live to 150 years old.”

Putin landed in China on Sunday, September 1, 2025, for a Beijing-led SCO summit that brought together over 20 leaders from non-Western nations.