Donald Trump Accused Of 'Blatant And Vile Anti-Semitism' With 'Deeply Dangerous' Trope
Trump was boasting to supporters in Des Moines, Iowa, about how they would now benefit from various parts of his signature, controversial taxation and spending bill when he said:
'No death tax. No estate tax. No going through the banks and borrowing from, in some cases a fine banker, and in some cases, Shylocks and bad people.'
TRUMP: No estate tax, no going through the banks and borrowing from—in some cases a fine banker— and in some cases a shylocks and bad people. pic.twitter.com/VHQt3k1U6u
— Acyn (@Acyn) July 4, 2025
The term 'Shylock,' a reference to the name of the Jewish moneylender in William Shakespeare's 'The Merchant of Venice,' is now considered to be an anti-Semitic slur, playing as it does on anti-Semitic stereotypes.
Rep. Daniel Goldman (D-N.Y.) led the criticism of the president on social media.
The congressman accused Trump of 'blatant and vile antisemitism' and claimed the president 'knows exactly what he's doing.'
This is blatant and vile antisemitism, and Trump knows exactly what he's doing. Anyone who truly opposes antisemitism calls it out wherever it occurs — on both extremes — as I do. Where is @EliseStefanik and the GOP now that antisemitism is coming from Trump? https://t.co/PFoxu9DBZc
— Daniel Goldman (@danielsgoldman) July 4, 2025
'Shylock is among the most quintessential antisemitic stereotypes,' added Amy Spitalnick, of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs.
'This is not an accident' by Trump and is 'deeply dangerous,' she added.
Shylock is among the most quintessential antisemitic stereotypes. This is not an accident. It follows years in which Trump has normalized antisemitic tropes and conspiracy theories — and it's deeply dangerous. https://t.co/unuY4poqod
— Amy Spitalnick (@amyspitalnick) July 4, 2025
Trump was reportedly confronted over his use of the term when flying back to the White House on board Air Force One.
'I've never heard it that way,' the president reportedly said. 'The meaning of Shylock is somebody that's a money lender at high rates. You view it differently. I've never heard that.'
A 'Shylock' comes from Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice—a Jewish moneylender who demands a 'pound of flesh.' The term later became a slur for a greedy or ruthless lender. ⚠️ It's widely seen as antisemitic and offensive today.
— Molly Ploofkins (@Mollyploofkins) July 4, 2025
Repugnant.
— OB (@OhBe_Won) July 4, 2025
Shylock is an antisemitic trope. https://t.co/ItTsF9aEYe
— Dr. Brian Goldman (@NightShiftMD) July 4, 2025
The bigotry just slips out sometimes...
— Lib Dunk (@libdunkmedia) July 4, 2025
Trump has those old slurs ready to go https://t.co/SV9orYVI8X
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) July 4, 2025
Maybe instead of going after universities for allegedly not doing enough to fight anti-semitism the president should police his own words and actions. https://t.co/nNM7HbGxB7
— Pam Fessler (@pamelafessler) July 4, 2025
A disgusting antisemitic smear from a president who dines with Holocaust deniers and called Neo Nazis 'fine people.'Said at a time when antisemitism is rising around the world. https://t.co/39Hmz5M3bZ
— Andrew Bates (@AndrewBatesNC) July 4, 2025
This is an antisemitic slur. An old one https://t.co/OqTD57rGY8
— Jennifer Mascia (@JenniferMascia) July 4, 2025
He's busting out the 40s antisemitism https://t.co/JXFscW29AS
— evan loves worf (@esjesjesj) July 4, 2025
So slurs are what's making America great again?
— Melissa Nold, Esq. (@savage_esquire) July 4, 2025
Today, at a rally in Iowa, Trump said this:"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."For those unaware, "shylock" is an antisemitic slur.It comes from Shakespeare's The…
— Charlotte Clymer 🇺🇦 (@cmclymer) July 4, 2025
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