In response to Trump’s proposal to ban Muslims from entering the United States, Ali delivered a statement to NBC News on Wednesday that called out “those who use Islam to advance their own personal agenda”.
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Less than 24 hours after Trump announced a trip to Jerusalem, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that he “rejects” Trump’s call for a “total and complete shutdown” ban on Muslims entering the U.S. “But I didn’t want to put him under pressure”, Mr Trump told Fox News on Thursday.
The meeting between Mr Trump and Mr Netanyahu was scheduled before the candidate’s latest comments on Muslims, the Israeli official said.
Americans are also split on Trump’s overall approach to the 2016 campaign.
But former heavyweight boxing champ Muhammad Ali, a Muslim, took exception. “So I would say lots of different reasons”, Trump said.
“In keeping with our longstanding tradition of hosting leading American presidential candidates, Israel couldn’t refuse to see him without exposing itself to undue accusations of interference in USA elections”.
Trump said via Twitter that the meeting will be postponed and rescheduled “after I become president of the U.S”.
“You can vet them, but you can’t insult the whole religion”, O’Reilly said, continuing to push back, to which Trump responded, “This is about security, it’s not about religion”.
Trump had previously promised to travel to Israel before the end of the year, and he was slated to meet with Netanyahu on December 28.
Trump also made remarks that some said promoted Jewish stereotypes.
The International Organisation for Migration responded to Trump’s comments by saying any discrimination based on religion went against all international accords on dealing with refugees.
Host Brian Kilmeade asked Trump, “You had Josh Earnest not only say that you shouldn’t be saying what you’re saying, he even mocked your hair”.
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On Wednesday, Ali issued a statement addressed to “political leaders” who are lumping all Muslims into the same group as the “misguided murderers” who carried out recent terror attacks in Paris and San Bernardino.
