U.S. calls Putin–Xi remarks on organ transplants and immortality ‘horrifying’

U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson sharply criticized remarks by Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping about “organ transplants and immortality,” which were picked up by an open microphone during their conversation.

Xi noted that in the past people often did not live beyond 70, while Putin responded that advances in biotechnology could allow human organs to be transplanted repeatedly, enabling people to become “younger and even achieve immortality.”

Johnson said the comments were alarming given longstanding reports of forced organ harvesting in China, particularly involving Uyghurs. He stressed that the U.S. “will remain on the side of morality and ethics” and that lawmakers are preparing a bill to prohibit such practices, which may become a legislative priority.