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The Herald Scotland
05-07-2025
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Trump calls bankers a term long considered antisemitic
"The meaning of Shylock is somebody that's a money lender at high rates," Trump said after disembarking from Air Force One. "You view it differently. I've never heard that." Anti-bigotry groups were quick to condemn Trump, saying the president has a long history of making antisemitic remarks and should have known better. "Shylock is among the most quintessential antisemitic stereotypes," said Amy Spitalnick, CEO of the nonpartisan Jewish Council for Public Affairs and an expert on antisemitism and extremism. "This is not an accident," Spitalnick said in a post on X. "It follows years in which Trump has normalized antisemitic tropes and conspiracy theories -- and it's deeply dangerous." The Anti-Defamation League, which combats antisemitism and racism worldwide, said the term "evokes a centuries-old antisemitic trope about Jews and greed that is extremely offensive and dangerous." "President Trump's use of the term is very troubling and irresponsible," the ADL said, also in a post on X. "It underscores how lies and conspiracies about Jews remain deeply entrenched in our country. Words from our leaders matter and we expect more from the President of the United States." 'Shylocks and bad people' who 'destroyed a lot of families' Trump's remark came at a campaign-style rally speech at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines for a "Salute to America Celebration." Much of his speech celebrated the passage of his massive budget reconciliation bill earlier in the day. "No death tax. No estate tax. No going to the banks and borrowing from, in some cases, a fine banker -- and in some cases, shylocks and bad people... they destroyed a lot of families," Trump said. "But we did the opposite," Trump said, before describing the budget bill passed along party lines in the House and Senate. The term Shylock dates back centuries. In William Shakespeare's "The Merchant of Venice," the main antagonist was a character named Shylock, a Venetian Jewish moneylender portrayed as greedy, ruthless and charging high interest rates on loans. Joe Biden used the term too, then apologized Then-Vice President Joe Biden also used the term in 2014, describing unscrupulous bankers catering to American troops overseas as "these Shylocks who took advantage of these women and men." "Shylock represents the medieval stereotype about Jews and remains an offensive characterization to this day," Abraham Foxman, the ADL's national director said at the time. "The Vice President should have been more careful." Foxman later announced that Biden had reached out to him by phone to apologize. "Not only has he been a stalwart against anti-Semitism and bigotry, but he has the courage and forthrightness to admit a mistake and use it as an opportunity to learn and to teach others about the harmful effects of stereotypes," Foxman said of Biden. "Clearly there was no ill-intent here," Foxman added, "but Joe and I agreed that perhaps he needs to bone up on his Shakespeare." Biden also issued a public apology. "Abe Foxman has been a friend and advisor of mine for a long time," Biden said in a statement. "He's correct, it was a poor choice of words." Trump's history of remarks called antisemitic Trump has portrayed himself as a staunch advocate for Jews. Since retaking office, he has led an aggressive campaign to root out antisemitism at Harvard and other high-profile American universities - a move that some critics said curbs freedom of speech by those criticizing Israel for its war in Gaza. Trump has a long history of making statements that Jewish leaders, historians and civil rights organizations have interpreted as reinforcing antisemitic stereotypes, including jokes about being cheap and aggressive in business and accusations of them being primarily loyal to Israel. He also has associated with known antisemites. In 2015, he told the Republican Jewish Coalition, "You just like me because my daughter happens to be Jewish," and "I'm a negotiator like you folks; we're negotiators." During his first campaign for president in 2016, Trump tweeted an image of Democratic rival Hillary Clinton superimposed on dollar bills with a six-pointed star, widely interpreted as a Star of David. The ADL called it "blatantly antisemitic." Trump also has said any Jew who votes for Democratic "hates their religion" and "should have their head examined" because he has been so supporitive of Israel, which he has referred to as "your country" when addressing a Jewish audience. And in November 2022, Trump hosted far-right extremist and Holocaust denier Nick Fuentes - and Ye, the rapper formerly known as Kanye West - at his Mar-a-Lago club. Both West and Fuentes were avid supporters of Trump who repeatedly had made antisemitic remarks. Fuentes in particular is a prominent figure among the far-right, peddling white nationalist ideas and openly promoting antisemitic and racist rhetoric. "Bigotry, hate, and antisemitism have absolutely no place in America - including at Mar-A-Lago," Biden administration White House spokesman Andrew Bates told CNN in a statement. "Holocaust denial is repugnant and dangerous, and it must be forcefully condemned." In response to heavy criticism, Trump said West "called me to have dinner at Mar-a-Lago. Shortly thereafter, he unexpectedly showed up with three of his friends, whom I knew nothing about."
USA Today
04-07-2025
- Politics
- USA Today
Donald Trump uses antisemitic term to describe bankers, drawing criticism
The president made the remark at a rally launching his yearlong celebration of America's 250th birthday. WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump described some bankers as 'shylocks,' a term widely seen as an antisemitic slur, at a July 3 Iowa rally kicking off his yearlong celebration of America's 250th birthday. When asked by reporters about it later that evening, Trump said he has 'never heard that' the word is considered antisemitic. "The meaning of Shylock is somebody that's a money lender at high rates,' Trump said after disembarking from Air Force One. 'You view it differently. I've never heard that." Anti-bigotry groups were quick to condemn Trump, saying the president has a long history of making antisemitic remarks and should have known better. 'Shylock is among the most quintessential antisemitic stereotypes,' said Amy Spitalnick, CEO of the nonpartisan Jewish Council for Public Affairs and an expert on antisemitism and extremism. 'This is not an accident,' Spitalnick said in a post on X. 'It follows years in which Trump has normalized antisemitic tropes and conspiracy theories — and it's deeply dangerous.' The Anti-Defamation League, which combats antisemitism and racism worldwide, said the term 'evokes a centuries-old antisemitic trope about Jews and greed that is extremely offensive and dangerous.' 'President Trump's use of the term is very troubling and irresponsible,' the ADL said, also in a post on X. 'It underscores how lies and conspiracies about Jews remain deeply entrenched in our country. Words from our leaders matter and we expect more from the President of the United States.' 'Shylocks and bad people' who 'destroyed a lot of families' Trump's remark came at a campaign-style rally speech at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines for a "Salute to America Celebration." Much of his speech celebrated the passage of his massive budget reconciliation bill earlier in the day. 'No death tax. No estate tax. No going to the banks and borrowing from, in some cases, a fine banker — and in some cases, shylocks and bad people… they destroyed a lot of families,' Trump said. 'But we did the opposite,' Trump said, before describing the budget bill passed along party lines in the House and Senate. The term Shylock dates back centuries. In William Shakespeare's 'The Merchant of Venice,' the main antagonist was a character named Shylock, a Venetian Jewish moneylender portrayed as greedy, ruthless and charging high interest rates on loans. Joe Biden used the term too, then apologized Then-Vice President Joe Biden also used the term in 2014, describing unscrupulous bankers catering to American troops overseas as 'these Shylocks who took advantage of these women and men.' 'Shylock represents the medieval stereotype about Jews and remains an offensive characterization to this day,' Abraham Foxman, the ADL's national director said at the time. 'The Vice President should have been more careful.' Foxman later announced that Biden had reached out to him by phone to apologize. 'Not only has he been a stalwart against anti-Semitism and bigotry, but he has the courage and forthrightness to admit a mistake and use it as an opportunity to learn and to teach others about the harmful effects of stereotypes,' Foxman said of Biden. 'Clearly there was no ill-intent here,' Foxman added, 'but Joe and I agreed that perhaps he needs to bone up on his Shakespeare.' Biden also issued a public apology. "Abe Foxman has been a friend and advisor of mine for a long time," Biden said in a statement. "He's correct, it was a poor choice of words." Trump's history of remarks called antisemitic Trump has portrayed himself as a staunch advocate for Jews. Since retaking office, he has led an aggressive campaign to root out antisemitism at Harvard and other high-profile American universities – a move that some critics said curbs freedom of speech by those criticizing Israel for its war in Gaza. Trump has a long history of making statements that Jewish leaders, historians and civil rights organizations have interpreted as reinforcing antisemitic stereotypes, including jokes about being cheap and aggressive in business and accusations of them being primarily loyal to Israel. He also has associated with known antisemites. In 2015, he told the Republican Jewish Coalition, "You just like me because my daughter happens to be Jewish," and "I'm a negotiator like you folks; we're negotiators." During his first campaign for president in 2016, Trump tweeted an image of Democratic rival Hillary Clinton superimposed on dollar bills with a six-pointed star, widely interpreted as a Star of David. The ADL called it 'blatantly antisemitic.' Trump also has said any Jew who votes for Democratic "hates their religion" and "should have their head examined" because he has been so supporitive of Israel, which he has referred to as "your country" when addressing a Jewish audience. And in November 2022, Trump hosted far-right extremist and Holocaust denier Nick Fuentes – and Ye, the rapper formerly known as Kanye West – at his Mar‑a‑Lago club. Both West and Fuentes were avid supporters of Trump who repeatedly had made antisemitic remarks. Fuentes in particular is a prominent figure among the far-right, peddling white nationalist ideas and openly promoting antisemitic and racist rhetoric. 'Bigotry, hate, and antisemitism have absolutely no place in America - including at Mar-A-Lago," Biden administration White House spokesman Andrew Bates told CNN in a statement. "Holocaust denial is repugnant and dangerous, and it must be forcefully condemned." In response to heavy criticism, Trump said West 'called me to have dinner at Mar-a-Lago. Shortly thereafter, he unexpectedly showed up with three of his friends, whom I knew nothing about."
Time of India
04-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
‘Never heard that': Donald Trump says he's unaware ‘shylock' is considered anti-Semitic; faces backlash
US President Donald Trump said early Friday that he didn't realize the term 'Shylock' is considered antisemitic by some people. He had used the word during a rally to criticize certain bankers while discussing his newly passed tax cut and spending legislation, a comment that drew widespread criticism. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now 'I've never heard it that way. To me, Shylock is somebody that's a money lender at high rates,' Trump spoke to reporters after stepping off Air Force One. 'I've never heard it that way, you view it differently than me. I've never heard that.' T rump was heading back to Washington after the event in Iowa that marked the start of nationwide celebrations for the country's 250th anniversary, which will take place next year. In his speech, he used the word while highlighting parts of the major domestic policy bill that Congress had passed just a few hours earlier. "Think of that: No death tax. No estate tax. No going to the banks and borrowing from, in some cases, a fine banker - and in some cases, Shylocks and bad people,' he said during remarks at an Iowa rally. The term 'Shylock' comes from the character in William Shakespeare's play The Merchant of Venice. In the play, Shylock is a Jewish moneylender known for being harsh and demanding, famously insisting on a 'pound of flesh' from a merchant named Antonio if a loan wasn't repaid. "The term 'Shylock' evokes a centuries-old antisemitic trope about Jews and greed that is extremely offensive and dangerous. President Trump's use of the term is very troubling and irresponsible," the Anti-Defamation League said in a post on X. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now 'It underscores how lies and conspiracies about Jews remain deeply entrenched in our country. Words from our leaders matter and we expect more from the President of the United States,' the organisation added. US Representative Dan Goldman, a Jewish Democrat, said, "This is blatant and vile antisemitism, and Trump knows exactly what he's doing." Amy Spitalnick, CEO of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, said in a post on social media, 'Shylock is among the most quintessential antisemitic stereotypes. This is not an accident. It follows years in which Trump has normalized antisemitic tropes and conspiracy theories - and it's deeply dangerous.'
04-07-2025
- Politics
Trump criticized for using antisemitic slur in Iowa speech
Jewish advocacy groups slammed President Donald Trump for using an anti-Semitic descriptor on Thursday during his Iowa speech celebrating the passage of his spending bill. Trump used the term "Shylocks," which evokes a centuries-old antisemitic trope about Jewish people and greed, to talk about the tax changes in the bill. "No death tax, no estate tax, no going to the banks and bar exam from, in some cases a fine banker, and in some cases Shylocks and bad people, but they took away a lot of family. They destroyed a lot of families, but we did the opposite," he told the crowd. Shylock is a reference to the name of the Jewish moneylender and villain in playwright William Shakespeare's "The Merchant of Venice" who demands a "pound of flesh" from protagonist Antonio. The Anti-Defamation League on Friday morning criticized the president, reiterating that the term is "extremely offensive and dangerous." "President Trump's use of the term is very troubling and irresponsible. It underscores how lies and conspiracies about Jews remain deeply entrenched in our country. Words from our leaders matter and we expect more from the President of the United States," the organization said in a statement. Amy Spitalnick, the CEO of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, also condemned Trump's comments, saying in a statement it was one of "the most quintessential antisemitic stereotypes." "This is not an accident. It follows years in which Trump has normalized antisemitic tropes and conspiracy theories -- and it's deeply dangerous," she added. Trump was asked about his use of the word after he returned to Washington D.C. early Friday. The president, who has made combating antisemitism in schools a priority in his administration, claimed he has "never heard it that way." "To me, Shylock is somebody that's a money lender at high rates. I've never heard it that way. You view it differently than me. I've never heard that," Trump claimed. This is not the first time that an executive branch member came under fire for using the term. In 2014, then-Vice President Joe Biden took heat for using the term during the 40th anniversary celebration of the Legal Services Corporation, referring to predatory bankers as "these Shylocks who took advantage of these women and men while overseas." Biden apologized after then-Anti-Defamation League National Director Abraham Foxman criticized the use of the term. "He's correct, it was a poor choice of words, particularly as he said coming from 'someone as friendly to the Jewish community and open and tolerant an individual as is Vice President Joe Biden.' He's right," Biden said in a statement.
CNBC
04-07-2025
- Business
- CNBC
Trump uses antisemitic slur in remarks promoting his 'big, beautiful bill'
President Donald Trump used an antisemitic slur to describe exploitative bankers during a speech Thursday as he touted congressional passage of his massive domestic policy bill. Trump made the remark in Des Moines, Iowa, at what was billed as an event by a nonpartisan group to kick off celebrations for next year's 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. But Trump's campaign-style speech quickly took on a partisan tone, with the president expressing "hate" for the Democrats who voted against his "big, beautiful bill." While ticking through the bill's provisions, Trump described one aimed at protecting family farmers by allowing them to pay a reduced estate tax when transferring ownership to their children. "No death tax, no estate tax, no going to the banks and borrowing from, in some cases, a fine banker, and in some cases, Shylocks and bad people," Trump said. "They destroyed a lot of families, but we did the opposite." "Shylock" is a Jewish character in "The Merchant of Venice." In its description of the Shakespeare play, the Anti-Defamation League notes that the character, who serves as an antagonist, is frequently portrayed as a "conniving and cruel" money lender, reinforcing stereotypes of Jewish people as money-hungry and greedy. Amy Spitalnick, the CEO of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, said Thursday night in a post on X that the term is "among the most quintessential antisemitic stereotypes." "This is not an accident. It follows years in which Trump has normalized antisemitic tropes and conspiracy theories — and it's deeply dangerous," she added. When asked by reporters after his speech about the antisemitic connotations of the term "Shylock," Trump said, "I've never heard it that way." "To me, Shylock is somebody that's a money lender and high rates" he added. Former President Joe Biden faced backlash in 2014 for using the same term while serving as vice president. He later apologized for "poor" word choice. The Anti-Defamation League, which criticized Biden's remarks at the time, said Trump's use of the term was "very troubling and irresponsible," adding that it "underscores how lies and conspiracies about Jews remain deeply entrenched in our country." "The term 'Shylock' evokes a centuries-old antisemitic trope about Jews and greed that is extremely offensive and dangerous," the ADL said in a statement on X. "Words from our leaders matter and we expect more from the President of the United States." The remark by Trump came as he delivered a more than hourlong speech praising the passage of the "big, beautiful bill," before a cheerful crowd of several hundred supporters, some holding signs that read "Make Agriculture Great Again." Trump has previously faced accusations of antisemitism, including in 2024 after his former chief of staff John Kelly said Trump praised Hitler as doing "some good things, too." During his first term in office, Jewish groups criticized Trump after he put white supremacists chanting "Jews will not replace us" on the same level as counterprotesters at a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, in 2017. During his second term, Trump's administration has created a federal task force that plans to visit 10 university campuses in a bid to "eradicate antisemitic harassment." The State Department has also moved to revoke visas for foreign students involved in pro-Palestinian protests, including Mahmoud Khalil who was detained for more than two months despite holding a green card, for leading protests at Columbia University. And, the Department of Homeland Security implemented a new vetting policy in April enabling U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to consider a foreign national's "antisemitic activity on social media" as grounds for denying immigration benefit requests, including those applying for lawful permanent resident status.
