Donald Trump is embarking on his first trip abroad, and the people of the Middle East have surprisingly diverse views about the U.S. president.
The president visits Saudi Arabia and Israel before moving on to Europe. The tour marks the president's first step on the world stage and will include talks with Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz and his deputy crown prince on a $100 billion arms deal, as well as discussions on fighting in Iraq,
Trump is also expected to deliver a major speech addressing radical Islamic terrorism. He will meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem and the Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas in Bethlehem.
In anticipation of the trip, Reuters photographers captured viewpoints from people across the Middle East regarding the president and his policies. What follows is a sampling of their views:
—CNBC's Adam Jeffery contributed to this report
Djamel Bouktech, 66, merchant in Algiers, Algeria
"I think it's just a simple courtesy
Abdulwali Ahmed Qadhi of Sanaa, Yemen
"What Trump is doing in the Middle East is terrorizing, just terrorizing. An idiot with no policy but terrorizing. He wants countries to recognize Israel."
Somar Hazim, 35, pub operator in Old Damascus, Syria
"The change is his Syria policy based on interests, in the sense that there's no clear methodology. As for the issue of arming the Kurds, I do not oppose this as long as the goal is fighting a common enemy for the Syrian state, which is Daesh" — another name for ISIS — "provided that these weapons are not exploited to create a partitioned idea of Syria."
Ali Bassem, 26, Iraqi Emergency Response Division, Mosul, Iraq
"He is a hero. He got Daesh out of Iraq. He is cooperative with the Iraqi people and we and the Americans are one nation. We are brothers."
Artist Charbel Fares, near Sidon, Lebanon
"Trump's policies will lead us either to a world war with the Middle East as its center stage or towards a compromise between all the conflicting powers based on dividing our countries and changing the boundaries determined by the Sykes-Picot agreement" that was drawn up by Imperial Britain and France in 1916.
Sherine Haji, 23, Kurdish fighter with the People's Protection Units (YPG) in Qamishli city, Syria
"The plan to arm the YPG is a decision taken late. We have experienced many heavy battles. If this support was happening in the first place, the advances would have been quicker. We would not have to sacrifice many lives. Now I'm wounded, I've lost two legs, but rather than aching because of my pain, I'm worried
Nayef al-Hayzan, 28, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
"I expect that Trump's visit will have a positive impact on the Saudi economy, and discussions are expected to tackle the problems in Syria and [energy giant] Aramco's privatization in international markets and U.S. markets in particular."
Crafts salesman Hidaya Muhyiddin, 35, in Erbil, Iraq (Kurdistan)
"Trump should take speedy decisions, and for Kurds, they are oppressed and America has the right to arm them and support them militarily and financially. America must help Kurds not only in Syria but in all Kurdish areas."
Ovad Chen, falafel shop proprietor, Jerusalem
"I see myself as a very simple person, and I believe that at the end of the day, God controls everything. Therefore, it doesn't really matter what Trump is saying or doing in the Middle East or anywhere else. Even if we might think people are in any sort of control or power, this is all an illusion. God is the real king."
Fine arts graduate Marla Awad, Old Damascus, Syria
"What matters to me was one very negative decision — his refusal to allow the Syrians to immigrate to America in a racist
George Gharib, accessories shop proprietor, Beirut, Lebanon
"I do not expect any change in American policies toward the region, especially since President Trump is committed to moving the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem, and there is no intention to pressure Israel. He will be like all previous presidents who came before him with bias and abiding by Israeli interests."
Anonymous female fighter from the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP), Gaza Strip
"Trump is a man of war, he works on spreading war, chaos and killing
Sattar Muhsin Ali, 60, stationery store owner, Baghdad, Iraq
"I think the core policy of Trump is focusing on eliminating terrorism and drying out its financial sources in the world and curbing the terror-supporting states, especially those neighboring Iraq. The impact of Trump's policy on the future of the Middle East will hold positive elements. For example, Iraq suffered a lot from the policy of the former American administrations which led to the spread of chaos and finally to the emergence of Daesh."
Lara Shahin, 35, Syrian refugee in Amman, Jordan
"Trump's decision to strike at the air base was a surprise move that raised my hopes the U.S. president will take bolder decisions in the future that would end President Bashar al-Assad's rule and allow me to return home to a democratic country."
Mubarak Mashali, 20, student in Cairo, Egypt
"I think Trump is going to ruin things and make them worse than they already are throughout the whole Middle East."
Banker and blogger Mohammed Ateeq in Manama, Bahrain
"President Trump has promised to dramatically change America's stance in the Middle East, most notably by scrapping the Iran nuclear agreement, getting involved