U.S. President Donald Trump ignited swift condemnation after using the antisemitic slur “Shylock“ to describe certain bankers during remarks about his tax-cut legislation in Iowa on Thursday. The term, drawn from Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice, refers to a stereotypical Jewish moneylender and has long been recognized as a harmful trope about Jewish greed.
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) called Trump’s language “extremely offensive and dangerous,” noting it perpetuates centuries-old antisemitic stereotypes. Rep. Dan Goldman (D-NY), who is Jewish, denounced it as “blatant and vile antisemitism”—accusing Trump of deliberate provocation.
When questioned aboard Air Force One, Trump claimed ignorance of the term’s bigoted history, stating: “To be Shylock is somebody that, say, a money lender at high rates… I’ve never heard it that way.” His defense echoed past denials about racially charged remarks, despite widespread cultural awareness of the term’s implications.
The controversy erupted as Trump touted his tax bill’s passage, with critics arguing the incident reflects his pattern of inflammatory rhetoric. Jewish advocacy groups warn such language normalizes hate speech amid rising global antisemitism.
