Latest news with #MerchantOfVenice
Reuters
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Reuters
Trump criticized for using antisemitic 'Shylock' to describe bankers
WASHINGTON, July 4 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump drew criticism for using the antisemitic term "Shylock" to describe some bankers during remarks on his signature tax-cut and spending legislation that just passed Congress. "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 in Iowa late on Thursday. Shylock is an unscrupulous Jewish money lender in Shakespeare's 16th century play "The Merchant of Venice" and the term, shorthand for loan shark, has long been considered offensive. "The term 'Shylock' evokes a centuries-old antisemitic trope about Jews and greed that is extremely offensive and dangerous," the Anti-Defamation League said in a statement. "President Trump's use of the term is very troubling and irresponsible." U.S. Representative Dan Goldman of New York, a Jewish Democrat, said, "This is blatant and vile antisemitism, and Trump knows exactly what he's doing." Asked about his use of the term on his return to Washington, Trump said he did not know its connotations. "No, I've never heard it that way. To be Shylock is somebody that, say, a money lender at high rates," he told reporters on Air Force One. "I've never heard it that way. You view it differently than me. I've never heard that."
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump Pleads Ignorance After Using Antisemitic Slur at His Rally
Donald Trump has defended using an antisemitic slur during a speech, claiming he had 'never heard' it used as an attack on Jewish people before. Trump was asked about his use of the term 'Shylocks'–a reference to the Jewish moneylender in William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice, who famously demands a 'pound of flesh' from another character who cannot repay a loan—after he spoke Thursday at a rally celebrating the 250th anniversary of America's independence in Des Moines, Iowa. '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 told the crowd while praising his 'Big Beautiful' spending bill, which the House passed Thursday. Speaking to reporters after disembarking from Air Force One in Maryland, Trump claimed his use of the word differs from the meaning the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) describes as a 'centuries-old antisemitic trope' that plays on negative stereotypes about Jewish people and money. The antisemitism watchdog called the trope 'extremely offensive and dangerous.' 'The meaning of Shylock is somebody that's a money lender at high rates,' Trump said, according to The Washington Post. 'You view it differently. I've never heard that.' Trump received widespread condemnation for his remarks, with the ADL calling the president's casual use of the term 'troubling and irresponsible.' 'It underscores how lies and conspiracies about Jews remain deeply entrenched in our country,' an ADL spokesperson told Newsweek. 'Words from our leaders matter, and we expect more from the president of the United States.' Rep. Daniel Goldman of New York, who is Jewish, posted on X that the president's comments were 'blatant and vile antisemitism, and Trump knows exactly what he's doing.' This is not the first time Trump has been accused of pushing anti-Jewish tropes. In September 2024, during a 'Fighting Anti-Semitism in America' event in Washington, D.C., Trump suggested Jewish people 'would have a lot to do' with him potentially losing the last election, a comment accused of scapegoating Jews. During his first term, Trump also said Jews who vote for Democrats are guilty of 'great disloyalty'—a phrase reminiscent of the antisemitic trope that Jewish people are more loyal to Israel than to their own country. In 2014, then-Vice President Joe Biden also faced criticism for using the word 'Shylocks' to describe exploitative moneylenders. Biden later apologized, calling it a 'poor choice of words.' The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Daily Beast.
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump says he had ‘never heard' Shylock as an anti-semitic term after using it at rally
President Donald Trump said early Friday that he wasn't aware that some people view the word 'Shylock' as antisemitic after using the term during a rally to decry amoral money lenders. 'I've never heard it that way. To me, Shylock is somebody that's a money lender at high rates,' Trump told reporters after getting off Air Force One. 'I've never heard it that way, you view it differently than me. I've never heard that.' Trump was arriving back in Washington after an event in Iowa marking the kick-off to nationwide celebrations marking the country's 250th anniversary next year. In his speech, he used the word when touting aspects of the major domestic policy bill that had been approved by Congress a few hours earlier. 'Think of that: no death tax, no estate tax, no going to the banks and borrowings from in some cases a fine banker. And in some cases, Shylocks and bad people,' he said during his event in Des Moines. 'They took away a lot of, a lot of family. They destroyed a lot of families, but we did the opposite.' The name 'Shylock' derives from the name of the antagonist in William Shakespeare's 'The Merchant of Venice.' Shylock, a Jew, was a ruthless moneylender in the play, and he's remembered for demanding a 'pound of flesh' from the merchant Antonio if he failed to repay a loan. The Anti-Defamation League condemned Trump's use of the word Friday morning. '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 organization wrote in a statement 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.' Then-Vice President Joe Biden apologized for using the word in 2014 after the ADL's national director at the time issued a mild rebuke of his use of the word, saying Biden 'should have been more careful.' Biden made the reference in a speech while recalling anecdotes from his son's experience serving in Iraq and meeting members of the military who were in need of legal help because of problems back at home. 'I mean these Shylocks who took advantage of, um, these women and men while overseas,' he said. Some Democrats were quick to criticize Trump's use of the word on Thursday. 'This is blatant and vile antisemitism, and Trump knows exactly what he's doing,' Rep. Daniel Goldman of New York wrote on social media. 'Anyone who truly opposes antisemitism calls it out wherever it occurs — on both extremes — as I do.' Amy Spitalnick, the CEO of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, said 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.'
Daily Mail
14 hours ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Trump responds to criticism after use of 'anti-Semitic term'
President Donald Trump pushed back at criticism for his use of an anti-Semitic term during his Iowa rally, saying he had 'never heard it that way.' He used the term while referencing unscrupulous bankers as he touted the impacts of his 'big, beautiful bill,' which Congress had approved hours earlier. '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. He sparked outrage over his use of 'shylocks,' which refers to loan sharks and is considered offensive, playing on stereotypes of Jews and money. Trump said he had never heard it used that way. 'I've never heard it that way,' he told reporters at Joint Base Andrews after his rally. 'The meaning of Shylock is somebody that's a money lender at high rates. You view it differently. I've never heard that.' Shylock is a Jewish character in William Shakespeare's play 'The Merchant of Venice.' He is portrayed as a villain and demands a 'pound of flesh' from another character who is unable to repay a loan. Amy Spitalnick, the CEO of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, slammed Trump for using an 'anti-Semitic stereotype.' '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,' she wrote on social media. Trump has been accused of anti-Semitism but he is also close to the Jewish people. His daughter Ivanka converted to Jewish with her marriage to Jared Kushner. They are raising their children as Jewish. The president also has signed executive orders combating antisemitism and cracked down on universities that allowed pro-Palestinian protests on their campuses. Before his rally he met with Edan Alexander, an Israeli-American who was held hostage during the Gaza war. And, on Monday, he will host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House to push for an end to the war in Gaza. Trump is not the only politician to have used the word. Then-Vice President Joe Biden used it in a 2014 speech while discussing his son's experience serving in Iraq and meeting members of the military who were in need of legal help because of problems back at home.
Daily Mail
15 hours ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Trump responds after sparking outrage for use of 'anti-Semitic term' during tax cuts celebration
President Donald Trump pushed back at criticism for his use of an anti-Semitic term during his Iowa rally, saying he had 'never heard it that way.' He used the term while referencing unscrupulous bankers as he touted the impacts of his 'big, beautiful bill,' which Congress had approved hours earlier. '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. He sparked outrage over his use of 'shylocks,' which refers to loan sharks and is considered offensive, playing on stereotypes of Jews and money. Trump said he had never heard it used that way. 'I've never heard it that way,' he told reporters at Joint Base Andrews after his rally. 'The meaning of Shylock is somebody that's a money lender at high rates. You view it differently. I've never heard that.' Shylock is a Jewish character in William Shakespeare's play 'The Merchant of Venice.' He is portrayed as a villain and demands a 'pound of flesh' from another character who is unable to repay a loan. Amy Spitalnick, the CEO of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, slammed Trump for using an 'anti-Semitic stereotype.' '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,' she wrote on social media. Trump has been accused of anti-Semitism but he is also close to the Jewish people. His daughter Ivanka converted to Jewish with her marriage to Jared Kushner. They are raising their children as Jewish. The president also has signed executive orders combating antisemitism and cracked down on universities that allowed pro-Palestinian protests on their campuses. Before his rally he met with Edan Alexander, an Israeli-American who was held hostage during the Gaza war. And, on Monday, he will host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House to push for an end to the war in Gaza. Trump is not the only politician to have used the word. Then-Vice President Joe Biden used it in a 2014 speech while discussing his son's experience serving in Iraq and meeting members of the military who were in need of legal help because of problems back at home. 'I mean these Shylocks who took advantage of, um, these women and men while overseas,' Biden said at the time. He, too, was heavily criticized. Biden ultimately apologized for his words.
