WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump says he didn’t know the time period “shylock” is taken into account antisemitic when he used it in a speech to explain unscrupulous moneylenders.
Trump instructed reporters early Friday after getting back from an occasion in Iowa that he had “by no means heard it that manner” and “by no means heard that” the time period was thought of an offensive stereotype about Jews.
Shylock refers back to the villainous Jewish moneylender in Shakespeare’s “The Service provider of Venice” who calls for a pound of flesh from a debtor.
The Anti-Defamation League, which works to fight antisemitism, mentioned in an announcement that the time period “evokes a centuries-old antisemitic trope about Jews and greed that’s extraordinarily offensive and harmful. President Trump’s use of the time period could be very troubling and irresponsible.”
Democrat Joe Biden, whereas vice chairman, mentioned in 2014 that he had made a “poor selection” of phrases a day after he used the time period in remarks to a authorized help group.
Trump’s administration has made cracking down on antisemitism a precedence. His administration mentioned it’s screening for antisemitic exercise when granting immigration advantages and its struggle with Harvard College has centered on allegations from the White Home that the varsity has tolerated antisemitism.
However the Republican president has additionally had a historical past of enjoying on stereotypes about Jewish folks.
He instructed the Republican Jewish Coalition in 2015 that “you need to management your politicians” and prompt the viewers used cash to exert management.
Earlier than he kicked off his 2024 presidential marketing campaign, Trump drew widespread criticism for eating at his Florida membership with a Holocaust-denying white nationalist.
Final yr, Trump made repeated feedback accusing Jewish People who establish as Democrats of disloyalty due to the Democratic leaders’ criticisms of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Critics mentioned it perpetuated an antisemitic trope about Jews having divided loyalties and there being just one proper method to be Jewish.
On Thursday evening in his speech in Iowa, Trump used the time period whereas speaking about his signature laws that was handed by Congress earlier within the day.
“No loss of life tax, no property tax, no going to the banks and borrowing some from, in some instances, a wonderful banker and in some instances shylocks and dangerous folks,” he mentioned.
When a reporter later requested in regards to the phrase’s antisemitic affiliation and his intent, Trump mentioned; “No, I’ve by no means heard it that manner. To me, a shylock is someone that’s a cash lender at excessive charges. I’ve by no means heard it that manner. You view it in another way than me. I’ve by no means heard that.”
The Anti-Defamation League mentioned Trump’s use of the phrase “underscores how lies and conspiracies about Jews stay deeply entrenched in our nation. Phrases from our leaders matter and we anticipate extra from the President of the USA.”