Trump Draws ADL Rebuke for Antisemitic Slur at Iowa Rally

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Published Jul 4, 2025, 02:23 PM

President Donald Trump referred to some bankers as "Shylocks"—a term long viewed as an antisemitic slur—during a campaign-style rally at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines on Thursday evening. The speech celebrated passage of his sweeping “One Big Beautiful Bill,” which eliminates estate and death taxes and tightens lending rules.

Jewish advocacy groups swiftly condemned the remark. The Anti-Defamation League called the language "troubling and irresponsible," while the Jewish Council for Public Affairs said the comment perpetuated a centuries-old stereotype portraying Jews as greedy moneylenders.

Questioned by reporters after the event, Trump said he was unaware the word is considered offensive, stating, "I’ve never heard it that way. To me, a Shylock is somebody that’s a moneylender at high rates." The controversy surfaces just days before the president is scheduled to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House.

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