Appearing on Fox News to reminisce about his relationship with late boxer Muhammad Ali, GOP presidential contender Donald Trump claimed that Ali was not singling him out last December when he criticized politicians making inflammatory attacks on Muslims.
Last December, the boxing great issued a statement chastising “Presidential Candidates Proposing to Ban Muslim Immigration to the United States."
Saturday night, while speaking with host Geraldo Rivera, Trump described his longtime friendship with the champ before the host mentioned the statement Ali issued following the shooting in San Bernardino that claimed 14 lives.
Ali wrote, "We as Muslims have to stand up to those who use Islam to advance their own personal agenda,” following Trump's insistence that U.S. mosques be monitored and that a database be created to track Muslims.
Asked by Rivera, "Was he speaking to you?" Trump dismissed the idea.
"I don't know if he was or not," Trump replied. "I don't think so actually. But I don't even know who released the statement, because, you know -- who released it. I have a feeling he wouldn't have said that to me and I don't know that it was directed at me. There was a lot of anger at that time and there still is obviously. But I don't think he did, but, you know, who knows?"
Watch the video below via Fox News:
