Naked picture of Donald Trump’s wife used by opponents sparks new low in US presidential race (Photo)

The battle for the Republican Presidential nomination descended into “gutter politics” after the two front runners traded insults over their wives.

Trouble flared when Donald Trump became incensed over the use of a naked picture of his wife Melania by supporters of rival Ted Cruz .

The Make America Awesome campaign used a photograph from a 2000 photoshoot by Britain’s GQ magazine of the former model writing: “Meet Melania Trump. Your next First Lady.”

Underneath they added: “Or, you could support Ted Cruz .”

(Trump and his wife Melania)

The move infuriated the billionaire who took to Twitter to post an unflattering picture of Cruz’s wife Heidi writing: “Lyin’ Ted Cruz just used a picture of Melania from a G.Q. shoot in his ad. Be careful, Lyin’ Ted, or I will spill the beans on your wife!”

Trump did not elude to what he was prepared to divulge about the Goldman Sachs executive who is currently on leave while she supports her husband.

Texas Senator Cruz hit back responding on the social media site.

He wrote: “Pic of your wife not from us. Donald, if you try to attack Heidi, you’re more of a coward than I thought. #classless.”

The row then escalated when Heidi defended herself.

She hit back saying “most of the things that Donald Trump says have no basis in reality”.

(Ted Cruz and his wife Heidi both hit back at Trump)

She added: “So we are not worried in the least. I have one job in this campaign and that is to help Ted win this race. I think it is the easiest job in the world.

“All I have to do is speak the truth about what I know about my husband and our family.”

Cruz then backed up his wife at Women’s National Republican Club in New York saying she was “not scared one iota” of Trump.

He described Trump’s attack as “gutter politics” saying he had “reached a new low”.

Cruz then addressed the row further on CNN using a misquoted line from 1995 film The American President starring Michael Douglas.

“If Donald wants to get in a character fight, he’s better off sticking with me ’cause Heidi is way out of his league,” he said.

-UK Mirror