“He Loves People”: President Cyril Ramaphosa Entertains Locals in the US, SA Touched
- South African President Cyril Ramaphosa was caught on camera doing something unexpected during a US visit
- The TikTok clip was shared after he arrived to meet President Donald Trump amid political urgency
- Social media users couldn't stop talking about how wholesome and humble the moment was, calling him the sweetest leader the country has ever had
Source: Getty Images
Cyril Ramaphosa had social media melting after doing the most unexpected thing during an important visit to the United States.
The video, posted on TikTok by @newsdesktok, a news-based account, received major attention, as users praised him for being down-to-earth.
Cupcake turns heads in Washington
The clip shows the South African president stepping out of a car in Washington, DC, arriving for a high-level meeting with Donald Trump. He was there to discuss urgent diplomatic matters, including the controversial arrival of 49 Afrikaners on US soil, allegedly fleeing what they claimed was genocide in Mzansi.
PAY ATTENTION: Briefly News is now on YouTube! Check out our interviews on Briefly TV Life now!
As he walked towards the entrance of the building, where his team and security were waiting, he suddenly heard familiar voices calling his name. Turning around with a big smile, he spotted South African journalists and citizens behind a security gate and casually walked over to greet them, totally ignoring the formality of the moment.
Watch the TikTok video below:
SA reacts to "Cupcake" vibes
Social media users fell in love with the short but powerful moment. Many were hyped to see a president choosing his people over protocol, calling him sweet, humble, and heartwarming.
Some jokingly said he's living up to his 'Cupcake' nickname, while others praised him for showing warmth and humanity during such a serious trip. Others said he was the kind of leader who stayed connected to his people no matter where he was.
Source: Getty Images
User @🇮🇱theebadasschefgwen joked:
"When you thought you left your kids at home and they decide to come to your workplace😭."
User @Dalene Nash 🇿🇦 said:
"This is exactly what I was talking about! Look how respectful he is towards everyone. Doesn't matter who he speaks to."
User @repetitionletsoke added:
"😩😂The moment she said "Cupcake, Hi"... He knew then gore it can only be my people."
User @Ditiro shared:
"I hope the world sees how human our President is, he doesn't take himself too seriously, he's very casual, and he loves people."
User @Tellie_Felicia said:
"We have the kindest president 🥰🥰❤️our Cupcake is sweet🥰."
User @B added:
"I like our president. So humble and kind."
Talks to mend SA and US ties
Ramaphosa is scheduled to meet with Trump today, Wednesday, 21 May, at the White House in Washington, D.C. The meeting aims to address and mend the strained relations between South Africa and the United States. Recent controversies over SA's land reform policies and its legal actions against Israel have complicated relations.
Ramaphosa is accompanied by prominent South Africans, including professional golfers Ernie Els and Retief Goosen, appealing to Trump's known interest in golf.
Business mogul Johann Rupert, who has longstanding ties with Trump, is also part of the delegation. He said:
"Ernie Els was actually the person who, over the past month, talked Trump into agreeing to the meeting."
In February 2025, the United States also suspended foreign aid to SA. The decision cited alleged "government-sponsored race-based discrimination" concerning land expropriation policies affecting white Afrikaner farmers. According to The Guardian, this led to the termination of around $436 million (about R7.9 billion) in annual funding, impacting SA's HIV treatment programmes. Over 8,000 health workers lost their jobs, and 12 specialised HIV clinics closed, disrupting care for more than 60,000 patients.
3 Briefly News articles about Cyril Ramaphosa
- A student greeted President Cyril Ramaphosa, who was driving a golf cart in her estate, with the cheeky nickname 'Cupcake', and he responded and even waved at her.
- A young female Xhosa poet delivered a powerful praise poem for President Cyril Ramaphosa at the 2025 State of the Nation Address (SONA), leaving online users touched.
- President Cyril Ramaphosa promised more job creation for unemployed youth during the 2025 SONA, but political analyst Prof Dirk Kotze said that was not the government's job.
Hilary Sekgota, human interest head of desk at Briefly News, contributed to this article.
PAY ATTENTION: Follow Briefly News on Twitter and never miss the hottest topics! Find us at @brieflyza!
Source: Briefly News
