CITY HALL – Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump continues to face criticism in the wake of his calls to bar Muslims from entering the country.

New York leadership is calling for an interfaith rally on the steps of City Hall Wednesday morning in response to Trump's continued incendiary remarks.

Exclusive: Muhammad Ali responds to Trump: "our political leaders should use their position to bring understanding" pic.twitter.com/zq6PlGqogc — Bradd Jaffy (@BraddJaffy) December 9, 2015

City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito called Trump's remarks "racist and "anti-immigrant," saying they "fly directly in the face of everything we stand for and have no place in our city."

"What he said yesterday disqualifies him from serving as president," White House press secretary John Earnest said Tuesday.

His comments are only the latest to put him in the hot seat, but also keep him at the top of the polls, showing him with a 22-point lead among New Hampshire Republicans.

"I'm a person who has common sense. I know how to run things. I know how to make American great again," Trump said.

But his ruthless remarks have a long history. Trump has mocked a reporter with disabilities. His supporters assaulted a Black Lives Matter protestor and he has still refused to retreat from his completely discredited claims over Muslims in Jersey City celebrating as the Twin Towers burned on Sept. 11.

"I didn't see any evidence of thousands nor have I ever seen it," former NYC mayor Rudy Giuliani said. "If he saw thousands on TV, let him get the tape to corroborate it. It's gonna make him really look bad."

Wednesday afternoon, legendary boxer Muhammad Ali responded to the proposed ban on Muslim immigration into the country, saying, "I am a Muslim and there is nothing Islamic about killing innocent people in Paris, San Bernardino, or anywhere else in the world."