Photos: Obama Shook Hands With a Communist Dictator at the Mandela Memorial Service, and It's Making Headlines

President Barack Obama shook hands with communist leader and Cuban President Raul Castro at the memorial service for former South African President Nelson Mandela in Johannesburg on Tuesday.

In this image from TV, President Barack Obama shakes hands with Cuban President Raul Castro at the FNB Stadium in Soweto, South Africa, in the rain for a memorial service for former South African President Nelson Mandela, Tuesday Dec. 10, 2013. (AP/SABC Pool)

In this image from TV, US President Barack Obama shakes hands with Cuban President Raul Castro at the FNB Stadium in Soweto, South Africa, in the rain for a memorial service for former South African President Nelson Mandela, Tuesday Dec. 10, 2013. (AP/SABC Pool)

The heads of the two Cold War enemies were among numerous world leaders gathered in South Africa for the memorial to the first black president of the African country once dominated by a white minority.

Speaking on CNN, correspondent John King predicted Obama would be criticized for the handshake.

“There will be someone out there who thinks that was horrible,” King said, before adding, “I think the president was showing respect for the moment.”

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