A Saudi royal is calling for Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump to end his campaign.
“@RealDonaldTrump, you are a disgrace not only to the GOP but to all America,” Saudi Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal tweeted Friday. “Withdraw from the U.S. presidential race as you will never win.”
{mosads}Bin Talal’s request follows Trump’s controversial call for a ban on admitting Muslims into the U.S. Trump has repeatedly defended the measure as necessary to prevent radical Islamic terrorism on American soil.
Forbes reported last June that Bin Talal is Saudi Arabia’s wealthiest billionaire, boasting a $24 billion personal fortune. He ranks No. 34 out of the world’s 100 richest individuals overall.
The self-made investor is primarily known for his role as the CEO of Kingdom Holding Company, Forbes said, adding that Bin Talal also has extensive stock holdings in Twitter, Citigroup and Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts.
Bin Talal’s criticism of Trump is not the first time the prince has entered American political life. He also drew the ire of then-New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in New York.
New York City rejected a $10 million aid check from Bin Talal in October 2001 over the Saudi’s controversial remarks on Palestine, according to the BBC.
“I believe the government of the United States should re-examine its policies in the Middle East and adopt a more balanced stance toward the Palestinian cause,” he said at the time. “Our Palestinian brethren continue to be slaughtered by the Israelis while the world turns the other check.”
Giuliani returned Bin Talal’s donation, the BBC said, calling the royal’s remarks “highly irresponsible and very, very dangerous.”
Bin Talal is not the only prominent world figure who has rejected Trump’s remarks on Islam. Leaders in Israel and the United Kingdom have also voiced displeasure with the businessman’s proposal.
Trump nonetheless remains popular with likely GOP presidential primary voters. He currently has a nearly 15-point lead on the other Republican White House hopefuls.