By Helen Regan
Updated: | Originally published: ;
Correction appended: Nov. 27, 2014, 2:25 a.m. E.T.
Uruguayan President José Mujica was talking to journalists in the capital Montevideo on Tuesday night when a homeless man asked him for some change.
“Give me a coin of yours, Pepe,” the man said.
“Look, brother,” replied the President, “I don’t have a coin but don’t cry!”
Mujica then handed the man a 100 peso bill.
The man shouted, “I want you to be President forever!” to which Mujica replied, “No, no … You’re crazy!”
The footage aired on Uruguay’s Teledoce TV channel.
Correction: The original version of this story misstated that President José Mujica gave a homeless man a $100 bill. He gave the man a 100 peso bill.
More Must-Reads From TIME
- The 100 Most Influential People of 2024
- The Revolution of Yulia Navalnaya
- 6 Compliments That Land Every Time
- Stop Looking for Your Forever Home
- If You're Dating Right Now , You're Brave: Column
- The AI That Could Heal a Divided Internet
- Fallout Is a Brilliant Model for the Future of Video Game Adaptations
- Want Weekly Recs on What to Watch, Read, and More? Sign Up for Worth Your Time
Write to Helen Regan at helen.regan@timeasia.com