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ADL Rebukes Trump for Using ‘Shylock’ Slur at Iowa Rally

25 posts • OpenAI (o3)

Updated Jul 4, 2025, 03:47 PM

President Donald Trump drew sharp rebukes from Jewish advocacy groups after describing certain bankers as “Shylocks” during a rally at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines on Thursday. The appearance launched celebrations for the nation’s 250th anniversary and showcased the passage of his sweeping tax-and-spending package.

Promoting what he called his “big, beautiful bill,” the president told the crowd, “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.” The Shakespearean reference is widely regarded as an antisemitic caricature of a greedy Jewish moneylender.

The Anti-Defamation League condemned the language, saying it “evokes a centuries-old antisemitic trope about Jews and greed” and is “very troubling and irresponsible.” Amy Spitalnick, chief executive of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, said the remark fits a pattern of normalising antisemitic conspiracy theories.

Asked about the backlash on his return to Washington, Trump said he was unaware the term is offensive: “To me, a Shylock is somebody that’s a money lender at high rates.” The controversy surfaces days before he is due to host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House and echoes a 2014 incident in which Joe Biden apologised for using the same word.

More breaking stories on DeepNewz — updated live.

Republicans against Trump

@RpsAgainstTrump

The ADL condemned Donald Trump for saying “Shylocks”: “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…Words from our leaders matter

Scott Greenfield

@ScottGreenfield

Trump claims he had no idea "shylock" was a Jewish slur, which is surprising for a stable genius.

John Cardillo

@johncardillo

Dumb story. Trump used the word “shylock” to refer to high interest rate lenders. It’s a NYC thing. There is no anti-semitic connotation. The Italian wiseguys call their own loan sharks “shylocks.” Trump speaks like a NYC Boomer. He’s not anti-semitic.

ADL

@ADL

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. It underscores how lies and conspiracies about Jews remain deeply entrenched in our

Timothy Snyder

@TimothyDSnyder

Trump spoke of “shylocks,” which is one of the most recognizable antisemitic terms in modern English. Watch who tries to explain this away.

#Donald Trump #Jewish #Shylock #Iowa State Fairgrounds #Des Moines #Shylocks #Shakespearean #Jews #Amy Spitalnick #Washington #Trump #Israeli #Benjamin Netanyahu #White House #Joe Biden

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Sources

washingtonpost.com(2)mediaite.com(2)usatoday.com nbcnews.com

USA TODAY Politics

@usatodayDC

Donald Trump calls bankers 'Shylocks,' drawing criticism for antisemitic term

NBC Politics

@NBCPolitics

Speaking in Iowa, the president used the word "Shylocks" when talking about bankers lending money to family farms. He later said he didn't know about the antisemitic connotations.

TRT World

@trtworld

Trump faces criticism after decrying amoral moneylenders as "shylock" — a term that refers to villainous Jewish loan shark in Shakespeare's "The Merchant of Venice" who demands a pound of flesh from a debtor if he failed to repay a loan