Even if Trump and Ramaphosa strike a deal, this step back from the abyss may prove to be a temporary reprieve rather than a reset. Any agreement will need to deliver positive results on both sides of the Atlantic to overcome the divergent worldviews and domestic pressures that will continue to pull the United States and South Africa apart.

The tech billionaire led the Department of Government Efficiency on a mission to dramatically cut federal spending which saw thousands of jobs axed.

Katie Miller, formerly an advisor for Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has left the White House to work for him full-time. Her departure follows Musk's 130-day stint as a special government employee.