Just a few of months ago President Obama singled out Chavez in a speech calling him a demagogue who supports terrorism which socialized the charge of being ignorant in a response from the Venezuelan dictator. Today it’s all hugs and kisses!

It wasn’t immediately clear Friday evening what words were exchanged between the two leaders, who were shown smiling in photos released by Venezuela.

President Obama shook hands with Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez on Friday at the opening of the Summit of the Americas being held this weekend in Trinidad and Tobago.

It wasn’t immediately clear Friday evening what words were exchanged between the two leaders, but photos released by the Venezuelan government show Obama clasping Chavez’s hand and smiling broadly.

Earlier Friday, Dan Restrepo, the president’s top Western Hemisphere adviser on the National Security Council, had told FOX News Obama might cross paths with Chavez.

“A chance encounter if it occurs,” Restrepo said, in describing such a meeting. “Let’s put the animosities behind us. Let’s not have old arguments.

“Let’s not have tired ideological arguments. Let’s get down to figuring out how we can advance things that are in our national interest. Things that matter to the United States that should matter to Venezuela. Putting the arguments and ideologies of the past aside and working on pragmatic solutions to real problems that face our countries today,” he said.

Way to stand by your convictions Mr President!