Trump Defends Use of “Shylock” Despite Condemnation as Antisemitic Trope
Former President Donald Trump claimed Friday he was unaware the term “Shylock” carries antisemitic connotations, after employing the word during a rally while criticizing lenders. The incident has sparked widespread condemnation from Jewish advocacy groups and some Democratic lawmakers.
The controversy unfolded as Trump returned to Washington following a campaign event in Iowa commemorating the upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States. During his speech in Des Moines, Trump invoked the term while discussing a recently approved domestic policy bill.
“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,” Trump stated, adding that such lenders had “taken away a lot of, a lot of family” and “destroyed a lot of families.”
The reference to Shylock originates from William Shakespeare’s “The Merchant of Venice,” where Shylock is a Jewish moneylender portrayed as ruthless and demanding. The character has become synonymous with antisemitic stereotypes about Jewish people and greed, demanding a “pound of flesh” as collateral.
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) swiftly condemned Trump’s usage of the term. In a statement released Friday morning, the organization asserted that “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,” further emphasizing that it “underscores how lies and conspiracies about Jews remain deeply entrenched in our country.”
This is not the first time a prominent political figure has faced scrutiny for using the term. In 2014, then-Vice President Joe Biden apologized after the ADL issued a mild rebuke for his use of “Shylock” while recounting stories of service members needing legal assistance. Biden had said, “I mean these Shylocks who took advantage of, um, these women and men while overseas.”
The current incident has drawn criticism from within the Democratic party. Representative Daniel Goldman of New York labeled Trump’s use of the word as “blatant and vile antisemitism,” stating on social media, “Trump knows exactly what he’s doing.” Amy Spitalnick, CEO of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, echoed this sentiment, asserting that “Shylock is among the most quintessential antisemitic stereotypes” and that Trump’s use of the term was “not an accident.”
Trump, however, defended his use of the word, telling reporters upon landing at Andrews Air Force Base, “I’ve never heard it that way. To me, Shylock is somebody that’s a money lender at high rates.” He continued, “I’ve never heard it that way, you view it differently than me. I’ve never heard that.”
The incident underscores the enduring sensitivity surrounding language and its potential to perpetuate harmful stereotypes, even when used without malicious intent. It also highlights the ongoing debate about the responsibility of public figures to be mindful of the historical and cultural context of the words they employ.
