Will Smith speaks at a press conference in Dubai, United Arab Emirates yesterday. — AP

Will Smith is in the Middle East to promote the movie “Suicide Squad”, but he says it’s also a chance to counter an increasingly anti- Muslim climate surrounding the US presidential race.

Smith, who plays the sharpshooter Deadshot in the film, says he’s having fun and sharing pictures of his time in Dubai, showing that “Hey, it doesn’t look like they hate me, does it?” He told reporters Sunday the elections brought many issues to the surface, and that ultimately it’s for the best.

“As painful as it is to hear Donald Trump talk and as embarrassing as it is as an American to hear him talk, I think it’s good,” Smith said. “We get to know who people are and now we get to cleanse it out of our country.” — AP