Recommendations of the Editorial team
Donald Trump has at an event on Thursday evening in Iowa used the anti -Semitic term “Shylocks” (German: “Wucherer”). The president used the insult to allegedly play predatory lenders, while he spoke about the newly adopted domestic tax and expenditure package, which he himself describes as “Big Beautiful Bill”.
Origin of the term “shylock”
“Imagine this. No inheritance tax. No estate tax. No going to the bank to take out loans. In some cases with a good banker. And in some cases in Shylocks and bad people,” said Trump.
The term “Shylock” comes from a fictional figure in William Shakespeare’s play “The Merchant of Venice”. The figure is a Venetian Jewish money distributor and the central villain of the play.
Until early Friday morning, Trump had faked ignorance of the term when he was asked. “I’ve never heard of it. For me, a Shylock is someone who gives money to high interest rates,” said CNN after landing with the Air Force One. “I’ve never heard it that way. You see it differently than I do. I’ve never heard of it.”
Sharp criticism of Jewish organizations
Despite his claim, Jewish organizations condemned the use of the term by the President. In a statement on X, the anti-defamation League wrote: “The term ‘Shylock’ causes a centuries-old anti-Semitic cliché about Jews and greed that is extremely offensive and dangerous. President Trump’s use of the term is very worrying and irresponsible. Leaders have weight and we expect more from the President of the United States. ”
Amy Spitalnick, the managing director of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, also commented on X: “Shylock is one of the most classic anti -Semitic stereotypes,” she said, adding: “This is no coincidence. It follows for years in which Trump has normalized anti -Semitic clichés and conspiracy theories – and that is deeply dangerous.”