Washington — President Donald Trump faced backlash Friday after using the term “Shylock” during a rally in Des Moines, Iowa, a word many view as carrying antisemitic connotations. Following the event, he told reporters he was unaware that the word had raised concerns, suggesting a different interpretation of its meaning.
“I’ve never heard it that way. To me, Shylock is just a money lender at high rates,” Trump stated after disembarking from Air Force One. His remarks came as he returned to the nation’s capital from an event celebrating the upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States.
During his speech, Trump referenced the term while discussing a major domestic policy bill recently passed by Congress. “Think of that: no death tax, no estate tax, no going to the banks and borrowing from, in some cases, fine bankers. And in some cases, Shylocks and bad people,” he said. He framed the legislation as a protective measure for families, contrasting his administration’s policies with those he accused of harming them.
The term “Shylock” originates from Shakespeare’s play “The Merchant of Venice,” where the character represents a ruthless Jewish moneylender infamous for demanding a “pound of flesh” as collateral. Critics argue that invoking this name perpetuates harmful stereotypes about Jews and wealth.
The Anti-Defamation League condemned Trump’s language, calling it “extremely offensive and dangerous.” The organization highlighted that such stereotypes are deeply rooted in negative portrayals of Jewish people. “Words from our leaders matter, and we expect more from the President of the United States,” the ADL stated in a response posted on social media.
The incident recalls a similar controversy from 2014 when then-Vice President Joe Biden faced criticism for his own use of the term during a speech. Biden later expressed regret after the Anti-Defamation League remarked that he should have been more careful with his words.
Democratic lawmakers swiftly denounced Trump’s comments. Rep. Daniel Goldman from New York described the remarks as “blatant and vile antisemitism,” accusing Trump of intentionally evoking such tropes. “Anyone who truly opposes antisemitism calls it out wherever it occurs,” he added.
Amy Spitalnick, CEO of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, echoed these sentiments, stating that Trump’s use of “Shylock” aligns with a troubling pattern of normalizing antisemitic narratives. She criticized the ongoing propagation of harmful stereotypes as both dangerous and irresponsible.
As the fallout from his comments continued, the president’s words underscored the sensitive nature of language in political discourse, highlighting the need for greater awareness and responsibility among public figures.