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President Donald Trump has defended his use of the time period “shylock” at a rally this week, saying he was unaware it’s thought-about antisemitic by some folks.
Trump used the time period in his speech in Iowa on Thursday, shortly after his signature One Huge Lovely Invoice Act was handed by Congress earlier within the day.
Shylock is the title of the villainous Jewish moneylender in Shakespeare’s “The Service provider of Venice,” who calls for a pound of flesh from a debtor.
President Donald Trump talks to journalists as he arrives at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland early on July 4, 2025. Trump returns from Iowa the place he spoke on the Salute to America Celebration on the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines. (Picture by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP) (ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP)
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Over time, the title got here for use extra broadly to discuss with a mortgage shark or grasping moneylender. At this time, some think about it an antisemitic slur, notably when utilized in reference to Jewish folks.
“No loss of life tax, no property tax, no going to the banks and borrowing some from, in some circumstances, a positive banker and in some circumstances, shylocks and unhealthy folks,” Trump mentioned, whereas referring to the invoice’s elimination of property taxes and borrowing burdens.
The time period didn’t provoke any response from the gang, however his comment shortly blew up on-line, and he later defended utilizing it when a reporter mentioned it’s broadly thought-about an antiemetic phrase.
“No I’ve by no means heard it that method,” Trump responded. “To me, a shylock is someone that’s a moneylender at excessive charges. I’ve by no means heard it that method. You view it otherwise than me. I’ve by no means heard that.”
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL), which works to fight antisemitism, mentioned the time period evokes “a centuries-old antisemitic trope about Jews and greed that’s extraordinarily offensive and harmful.”
President Donald Trump speaks through the American 250 kickoff occasion on July 3, 2025, on the Iowa State Fairgrounds. (Getty Photos)
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“President Trump’s use of the time period could be very troubling and irresponsible,” the ADL wrote in an announcement Friday. “It underscores how lies and conspiracies about Jews stay deeply entrenched in our nation. Phrases from our leaders matter and we count on extra from the President of the US.”
Rep. Jerry Nadler, D- N.Y., who’s Jewish, agreed and ripped Trump for utilizing the time period.
“The time period ‘Shylock’ is among the most recognizable antisemitic slurs within the English language,” Nadler wrote on X. “It’s a centuries-old trope that has fueled discrimination, hatred and violence in opposition to Jews for generations. I condemn Donald Trump’s harmful use of this blatantly antisemitic slur and his lengthy historical past of trafficking in antisemitic tropes.”
Nadler went on to say that Trump has exploited the rise of antisemitism to suppress free speech and that he isn’t critical about tackling the issue.
Conservative political commentator John Podhoretz, who can also be Jewish, shot again at Nadler.
“I condemn your endorsement of an anti-Semitic mayoral candidate which you probably did as a result of you’re a pusillanimous coward,” Podhoretz wrote, in reference to Nadler endorsing Zohran Mamdani for New York Metropolis mayor. “At finest Trump mentioned Shylock the identical week he destroyed Iran’s nuclear program. What have you ever ever performed for the Jews, Jerry?”
Rep. Jerry Nadler, D- N.Y., who’s Jewish, criticized Trump for utilizing the time period. (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Photos)
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Trump has made tackling antisemitism — notably on school campuses and thru immigration enforcement — a prime precedence in his marketing campaign. He signed an government order in January mandating that every one federal businesses establish and apply instruments to deal with antisemitic harassment and violence in larger schooling. His administration has additionally launched investigations into universities together with Harvard, Columbia, and UC Berkeley over allegations of antisemitism and has threatened to tug federal funding in the event that they fail to behave.
His daughter Ivanka transformed to Orthodox Judaism in 2009 and is married to Jared Kushner, who can also be Jewish.
Democrat Joe Biden, whereas vice chairman, mentioned in 2014 that he had made a “poor selection” of phrases a day after he used the time period in remarks to a authorized assist group.
The Related Press contributed to this report.
