Trump says he didn't know term he used in speech is considered antisemitic

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Trump is acceptable to motion his "big, beauteous bill." Here's what lawmakers are saying. 04:21

President Trump referred to immoderate lenders arsenic "shylocks and atrocious people" during a Thursday evening speech, utilizing a word the Anti-Defamation League called a "centuries-old antisemitic trope."

The remarks came during an lawsuit successful Iowa, arsenic Mr. Trump celebrated the transition of his One Big Beautiful Bill Act. When discussing the law's changes to the property tax, helium said, "Think of that. No decease tax, nary property tax. No going to the banks and borrowing from successful immoderate cases a good banker, and successful immoderate cases shylocks and atrocious people."

The connection "shylock" is simply a notation to the sanction of a Jewish quality successful William Shakespeare's "The Merchant of Venice" who is portrayed arsenic a greedy moneylender. The depiction is widely seen arsenic evocative of antisemitic stereotypes.

When asked astir the word's antisemitic connotations, Mr. Trump told reporters aft the speech, "I've ne'er heard it that way."

"The meaning of shylock is idiosyncratic that's a moneylender astatine precocious rates. You presumption it differently. I've ne'er heard that," the president said.

The Anti-Defamation League said Friday connected X, "President Trump's usage of the word is precise troubling and irresponsible," penning that the connection "evokes a centuries-old antisemitic trope astir Jews and greed that is highly violative and dangerous."

Rep. Dan Goldman, a New York Democrat who is Jewish, besides criticized Mr. Trump's remarks successful a station connected X, writing: "This is blatant and vile antisemitism, and Trump knows precisely what he's doing." 

"Anyone who genuinely opposes antisemitism calls it retired wherever it occurs — connected some extremes — arsenic I do," wrote Goldman. 

In 2014, then-Vice President Joe Biden besides drew disapproval for railing against "shylocks who took vantage of these women and men portion overseas," referring to subject work members who faced foreclosures portion serving abroad. Following pushback from the ADL, Biden called it a "poor prime of words," and the radical later said "there was nary ill-intent here."