Trump faces backlash for using antisemitic slur at Iowa rally

In days leading up to the Fourth of July 2025, President Donald Trump delivered a speech at a campaign rally in Des Moines, Iowa. During his remarks, he referred to individuals in the banking sector as 'Shylocks,' a term rooted in antisemitic stereotypes stemming from William Shakespeare's play 'The Merchant of Venice.' In the play, Shylock is portrayed as a greedy Jewish moneylender who exacts a pound of flesh from those who default on their loans. Following his remarks, the Anti-Defamation League and multiple Jewish organizations condemned Trump’s use of the term, asserting that it perpetuates harmful narratives about Jewish people. Trump responded by saying he had 'never heard' the term viewed in that way, claiming he associates it solely with high-interest lenders. His comments ignited a wave of criticism, with some political figures declaring them divisive and unfit for a president. Critics argued that using such terminology alienates portions of the population and detracts from Trump’s supposed role as a leader for all Americans. Trump's remarks also drew comparisons to a previous incident in 2014 when then-Vice President Joe Biden used the term 'Shylocks' and later apologized. Trump's unawareness of the term's implications and the backlash it created highlights ongoing tensions surrounding the language used by political leaders and its historical context and consequences.