President Donald Trump’s off-the-cuff oration in Des Moines is reverberating far beyond the fairgrounds after he invoked “Shylock,” a character long seen as a symbol of anti-Jewish caricature.
According to the New York Post, Trump insists he did not realize the word carries antisemitic baggage, telling reporters, “I’ve never heard it that way.”
The remark came Thursday as the president touted the inheritance-tax provisions of his newly passed One Big Beautiful Bill Act, contrasting honest “fine bankers” with “Shylocks and bad people” he said wrecked families by charging crushing interest.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, the highest-ranking Jewish elected official, instantly branded the reference “antisemitic, plain and simple,” writing on X that the president was “just spewing hate” during an event billed as a patriotic celebration.
The Anti-Defamation League echoed that rebuke, calling the term “extremely offensive and dangerous.” The group warned that invoking centuries-old conspiracies about Jewish greed by a sitting president “is very troubling and irresponsible.”
The slur traces to Shakespeare’s 16th-century play “The Merchant of Venice,” in which the Jewish moneylender Shylock demands a “pound of flesh” from debtor Antonio. Al Pacino popularized the role in a 2004 film, reinforcing the character’s association with ruthless usury.
Trump, arriving back at the White House on Friday, said his understanding of Shylock was merely “somebody that’s a money lender at high rates.” He added, “You view it differently than me. I’ve never heard that,” declining to retract the line.
The president pointed to his record of staunch support for Israel — including recognizing Jerusalem as its capital and assisting recent strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities — as evidence of goodwill toward Jewish communities, despite the furor over his language.
He also noted that then-Vice President Joe Biden apologized in 2014 after using the same expression to criticize exploitative lenders preying on U.S. troops, suggesting critics apply a double standard in judging rhetorical slips by political rivals.
Thursday’s appearance doubled as the launch of Trump’s “Salute to America Celebration,” a year-long road show leading to the nation’s 250th birthday in 2026. Thousands filled the Iowa State Fairgrounds for fireworks, marching bands and a campaign-style victory lap.
Iowa remains a bellwether for GOP fortunes, and passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act handed Trump a policy win to trumpet before caucus-goers. The sweeping measure eliminates federal estate taxes and expands family business exemptions.
Still, the episode may overshadow economic talking points the president hoped would dominate coverage. Reporters lingered on the slur throughout Friday’s press spray, limiting airtime for policy specifics and forcing aides to clarify his intent.
Trump’s use of the word Shylock at the Des Moines rally put the president, Shakespeare and centuries of antisemitic imagery at the center of Independence Day weekend politics.
Critics led by Schumer and the Anti-Defamation League demand a full apology, arguing the slur legitimizes stereotypes. Trump, citing unfamiliarity with the term’s history, has so far offered explanation rather than contrition.
With more stops planned on his patriotic tour and the 2026 semiquincentennial in sight, the White House faces a choice: address the controversy head-on or hope celebratory crowds drown it out as campaign season intensifies.
