Trump said he didn't know an offensive term he used in a speech is considered antisemitic

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump says helium didn't cognize the word “shylock” is considered antisemitic erstwhile helium utilized it successful a code to picture unscrupulous moneylenders.

Trump told reporters aboriginal Friday aft returning from an lawsuit successful Iowa that helium had “never heard it that way” and “never heard that” the word was considered an violative stereotype astir Jews.

Shylock refers to the villainous Jewish moneylender successful Shakespeare’s “The Merchant of Venice” who demands a lb of soma from a debtor.

The Anti-Defamation League, which works to combat antisemitism, said successful a connection that the word “evokes a centuries-old antisemitic trope astir Jews and greed that is highly violative and dangerous. President Trump’s usage of the word is precise troubling and irresponsible.”

Democrat Joe Biden, portion vice president, said successful 2014 that helium had made a “poor choice” of words a time aft helium utilized the word successful remarks to a ineligible assistance group.

Trump's medication has made cracking down connected antisemitism a priority. His medication said it is screening for antisemitic activity erstwhile granting migration benefits and its fight with Harvard University has centered connected allegations from the White House that the schoolhouse has tolerated antisemitism.

But the Republican president has besides had a past of playing connected stereotypes astir Jewish people.

He told the Republican Jewish Coalition successful 2015 that “you privation to power your politicians” and suggested the assemblage utilized wealth to exert control.

Before helium kicked disconnected his 2024 statesmanlike campaign, Trump drew wide disapproval for dining astatine his Florida nine with a Holocaust-denying achromatic nationalist.

Last year, Trump made repeated comments accusing Jewish Americans who place arsenic Democrats of disloyalty due to the fact that of the Democratic leaders' criticisms of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Critics said it perpetuated an antisemitic trope astir Jews having divided loyalties and determination being lone 1 close mode to beryllium Jewish.

On Thursday nighttime successful his code successful Iowa, Trump utilized the word portion talking astir his signature authorities that was passed by Congress earlier successful the day.

“No decease tax, nary property tax, nary going to the banks and borrowing immoderate from, successful immoderate cases, a good banker and successful immoderate cases shylocks and atrocious people," helium said.

When a newsman aboriginal asked astir the word's antisemitic relation and his intent, Trump said; “No, I’ve ne'er heard it that way. To me, a shylock is idiosyncratic that’s a wealth lender astatine precocious rates. I’ve ne'er heard it that way. You presumption it otherwise than me. I’ve ne'er heard that."

The Anti-Defamation League said Trump's usage of the connection “underscores however lies and conspiracies astir Jews stay profoundly entrenched successful our country. Words from our leaders substance and we expect much from the President of the United States.”

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