Trump starts Mideast trip with crush of problems, outsized certainty he has the answers

Contributing sentiments towards policy:

67% : Trump and administration officials framed the moment -- a goodwill gesture toward Trump by Hamas -- as a chance to get foundering peace negotiations between Israel and Hamas back on track.
58% : But now Trump finds himself navigating a series of geopolitical crises -- and searching for glimmers of hope in the deep well of global turmoil -- that are casting greater import on the first extended overseas trip of his second term.
46% : I don't know where I am going be on Thursday," Trump said.
44% : "I said, 'Come on, we're going to do a lot of trade with you guys,'" Trump said.
44% : Whatever his negotiating frame may be, Trump seemed confident that Iran is engaging rationally, and that he will cement a deal soon.
43% : But behind closed doors, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Qatar Emir Sheikh Tamim al-Thani, and Emirati President Mohammed bin Zayed will be looking to get a bead on how Trump intends to push ahead on resolving the war in Gaza, dealing with Iran's rapidly progressing nuclear program and addressing India-Pakistan tensions.
41% : "This was a step taken in good faith towards the United States and the efforts of the mediators -- Qatar and Egypt -- to put an end to this very brutal war and return ALL living hostages and remains to their loved one," Trump posted on social media after Hamas extended the offer Sunday.
41% : " While Trump pumped up Alexander's release as a potential turning point, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was far more subdued.
39% : "You can't have a nuclear weapon," Trump said of his demand for Iran.
38% : "This world is a lot safer today than it was a week ago," Trump crowed to reporters as he sized up the foreign policy challenges he's facing as he heads to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
38% : Trump, for his part, projected confidence that the meeting will happen and even seemed somewhat optimistic that the end to the conflict is near.
36% : And after weeks of threats and cajoling, it remains to be seen if Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will listen to Trump, who is demanding they meet in Istanbul this week to discuss ending Russia's war on Ukraine.
36% : It's an issue that's top of mind for the three Gulf leaders, who have rallied behind the new government in Damascus and will want Trump to follow through.
35% : "We may want to take them off of Syria, because we want to give them a fresh start," said Trump, adding that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has urged him to do so.
34% : " However, the two sides still appear a long way from any deal, even as time passes on a two-month deadline imposed by Trump.
29% : It's also unclear if Trump will insist that Tehran give up support of Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon and Houthi militants in Yemen as part of any nuclear deal.
26% : Trump, however, said this past week that his administration hasn't made a decision on the issue.
25% : " Trump sees opening in Gaza Just as Trump was preparing to depart Washington for the Saudi capital of Riyadh, the last living American hostage in Gaza, Edan Alexander, was released.
21% : The comments marked a striking change in tone from Trump, who has been deeply skeptical of Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa.
15% : Trump takes a different tone on Syria As he prepared to leaved Washington, Trump also said he's weighing removing sanctions on the Syrian government.

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