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<\/a><\/p>\nLeigh Lawson (left) as Antonio and Dustin Hoffman as Shylock in Peter Hall’s stage production of Shakespeare’s “The Merchant of Venice,” 1989. (Photo by Georges De Keerle\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Trump was touting the benefits of the Republican omnibus legislation that had just passed. \u201cNo death tax. No estate tax,\u201d he said. \u201cNo going to the banks and borrowing from, in some cases, a fine banker \u2014 and in some cases, Shylocks and bad people.\u201d<\/p>\n
Shylock is the name of the Jewish money lender in William Shakespeare\u2019s \u201cThe Merchant of Venice,\u201d a character that has come to be seen as an archetype of the stereotype that Jews are greedy and money-grubbing. Contemporary stagings of the play routinely grapple with its antisemitic tropes.<\/p>\n
Trump\u2019s choice of words quickly drew criticism.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe term \u2018Shylock\u2019 evokes a centuries-old antisemitic trope about Jews and greed that is extremely offensive and dangerous. President Trump\u2019s use of the term is very troubling and irresponsible,\u201d tweeted the Anti-Defamation League on Friday morning. \u201cIt underscores how lies and conspiracies about Jews remain deeply entrenched in our country. Words from our leaders matter and we expect more from the President of the United States.\u201d<\/p>\n
Confronted with the criticism, Trump \u2014 who has previously been accused of wielding antisemitic dog whistles and repeating antisemitic tropes \u2014 said he had never understood the term as antisemitic.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve never heard it that way,\u201d he told reporters on Friday. \u201cThe meaning of Shylock is somebody that\u2019s a moneylender at high rates. You view it differently. I\u2019ve never heard that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Some of Trump\u2019s critics said they believed Trump did understand the meaning of the term. \u201cThis is blatant and vile antisemitism, and Trump knows exactly what he\u2019s doing,\u201d tweeted Rep. Dan Goldman of New York, a Democrat.<\/p>\n
Both Goldman and Jerry Nadler, another Jewish New York Democratic congressman, said Trump\u2019s comment proved that Republicans are concerned about antisemitism only when it serves their political agenda. The Trump administration has cited antisemitism concerns in its effort to deport pro-Palestinian student protesters and penalize U.S. colleges.<\/p>\n
\u201cToday\u2019s speech shows that antisemitism in the Trump Administration is the rule not the exception, and emanates from the very top,\u201d tweeted Nadler, who said Trump had used \u201cone of the most recognizable antisemitic slurs in the English language.\u201d He added, \u201cIf Donald Trump were serious about fighting antisemitism, he could start with himself.\u201d<\/p>\n
Some Jewish conservatives, meanwhile, said they were willing to overlook the president\u2019s use of the term. \u201cTrump bombed Iran. He can say Shylock 100 times a day forever as far as I\u2019m concerned,\u201d tweeted John Podhoretz, the editor of Commentary.<\/p>\n
Joe Biden, then vice president, decried \u201cShylocks\u201d in 2014 to describe unscrupulous lenders who he said preyed on U.S. military personnel. After the CEO of the Anti-Defamation League criticized his comments, Biden said the criticism was right and that it was \u201ca poor choice of words.\u201d A social media account operated on Trump\u2019s behalf called attention to the episode in 2020.<\/p>\n