Trump faces backlash for antisemitic term ‘Shylock' in speech
Speaking to reporters on June 4 after returning from an event in Iowa, Trump stated he had "never heard it that way" and was oblivious to the term being deemed an offensive stereotype about Jews.
The term "Shylock" originates from Shakespeare's "The Merchant of Venice," where it describes a villainous Jewish moneylender who demands a pound of flesh from a debtor.
The Anti-Defamation League, which fights against antisemitism, condemned Trump's usage of the term, saying it "evokes a centuries-old antisemitic trope about Jews and greed that is extremely offensive and dangerous." They labeled the president's choice of words as very troubling and irresponsible.
In contrast, Joe Biden, while serving as vice president, acknowledged in 2014 that his use of the term during remarks to a legal aid group was a "poor choice" of words.
Although Trump's administration has made addressing antisemitism a priority—implementing measures to screen for antisemitic activity when granting immigration benefits and engaging in legal battles with Harvard University over allegations of tolerating antisemitism—the president has a history of perpetuating stereotypes about Jewish individuals.
Notably, in 2015, he remarked to the Republican Jewish Coalition that "you want to control your politicians," insinuating that the audience wielded influence through financial means.
Before launching his 2024 presidential campaign, Trump faced significant backlash for dining with a Holocaust-denying white nationalist at his Florida club.
Last year, he made controversial comments accusing Jewish Americans who identify as Democrats of disloyalty due to the criticisms of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from Democratic leaders. Critics argued that this perpetuated antisemitic narratives about divided loyalties among Jews.
In his speech in Iowa on July 3, Trump used the term while referencing his signature legislation that Congress had just passed. He remarked, "No death tax, no estate tax, no going to the banks and borrowing some from, in some cases, a fine banker and in some cases shylocks and bad people."
When questioned later about the term's antisemitic connotations and his intentions, Trump replied, "No, I've never heard it that way. To me, a shylock is somebody that's a money lender at high rates. I've never heard it that way. You view it differently from me. I've never heard that."
The Anti-Defamation League emphasized that Trump's use of the term highlights the persistent lies and conspiracies regarding Jews in the country, stating, "Words from our leaders matter, and we expect more from the President of the United States."
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