Boxer Muhammad Ali appears to take jab at Trump over Muslim comments

Mr Trump’s proposal earlier this week was met with an intense backlash in the U.S. and across the globe from leaders who said it was divisive.

Trump, seen here last night in New Hampshire, has been atypically gracious to Cruz, a freshman senator from Texas, since joining the race in June.

Trump also suggested on Twitter that Cruz will “fall like all others”.

Most Republican voters said they were not bothered by his remarks, though many said the comments could still hurt Trump’s chances of becoming president. “Now, that’s a question of strength, but that’s also a question of judgment and I think that is a challenging question for both of them”, Cruz said.

Trump told Fox News he postponed the trip because he did not want to put pressure on Netanyahu, who faced demands from Israeli politicians to call off the planned December 28 meeting.

Ali, who has spent less time in the spotlight since he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1984, was previously a regular fixture on USA television where he became a spokesperson for the Nation of Islam, a major force in the movement for black civil rights.

“I am a Muslim and there is nothing Islamic about killing innocent people in Paris, San Bernardino, or anywhere else in the world”, the statement attributed to Ali said.

Cruz’s campaign called that report “misleading” on Thursday, but did not dispute the nature of Cruz’s emphasis on “judgment”.

After the rally in September, Cruz praised Trump and acknowledged his rival’s ability to draw a crowd.

“I don’t believe either one of them is going to be our president”, he added.

But the signs that the bonhomie between the two men may be at risk have been increasing lately.

What do you think of Cruz questioning Trump’s judgment privately- while speaking of him in highly positive terms publicly? I won’t say Cruz because he’s been nice to me. Once he hits me, I promise you.

She said that Mr Trump is giving groups like the so-called Islamic State (IS) “a great propaganda tool” and “a way to recruit more folks from Europe and the United States”.

Not to be outdone, Trump went on to re-tweet Cruz’s message.

For his part, Cruz appears to be trying to head off a fight.