Trump does not mention Ali’s personal history as an unapologetic supporter of black pride. He converted to the Nation of Islam in 1964, and in 1967, during the height of Ali’s stardom, he famously said he would not serve in the Vietnam War because “I ain’t got nothing against no Viet Cong; no Viet Cong never called me nigger.”

Ali was vilified by the national media, and even fellow boxer Floyd Patterson voiced his anger at Ali. “I don't believe God put us here to hate one another. Cassius Clay is disgracing himself and the Negro race,” Patterson said.

His religion has not been forgotten after his death.

Despite suffering from Parkinson's disease, Ali still released a statement about Trump's proposed Muslim ban after the San Bernardino shooting in December 2015. “We as Muslims have to stand up to those who use Islam to advance their own personal agenda,” Ali said in a press release, according to The Daily Beast. “Speaking as someone who has never been accused of political correctness, I believe that our political leaders should use their position to bring understanding about the religion of Islam and clarify that these misguided murderers have perverted people’s views on what Islam really is.”

Trump has previously called Ali “his friend,” despite that earlier this year Trump questioned Obama for saying there are Muslim sports heroes.