The rivalry between Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump and challenger Ted Cruz turned personal Tuesday after the real estate mogul lashed out at a hostile ad featuring his wife Melania. 

The ad, paid for by the anti-Trump Make America Awesome PAC, shows a nude photo of Trump's wife from a GQ magazine shoot. Overlying text reads, "Meet Melania Trump, your next first lady. Or you could vote for Ted Cruz on Tuesday."

Liz Mair, a Republican strategist in charge of the PAC, told Buzzfeed News that the Melania ad was one of three targeting Mormons of voting age ahead of Tuesday's Utah caucuses.

Trump deleted an initial response to the tweet, before ultimately posting this message.

Cruz shot back with a tweet of his own.

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Mair tried to clear up the confusion with her own response to Trump.

The Texas senator had the last laugh Tuesday, scoring a convincing victory over Trump in Utah to keep his hopes of winning the Republican nomination alive.