Trump, accused of using a term with anti -Semitic connotations. The word was also spoken by Joe Biden 1N 2014
The US president used the word “Shylock” in his Iowa speech, arousing critical reactions from Jewish organizations.
Donald Trump, accused of using a term with anti -Semitic connotations: EPA EFE
During a rally held on Thursday evening in Iowa, US President Donald Trump used a term considered anti -Semitic to talk about the cadets. On the occasion of the 250th anniversary of the United States, Trump referred to some bankers with the name “Shylocks”, a word with roots in Shakespearean literature and a long history of negative connotations.
“No death fee. No succession fee. We don't need to go to banks and borrow there, in some cases from a good banker, but in other cases from Shylocks and bad people“Said Trump, enjoying the success of adopting his budget law.
Asked later by journalists, when descending from the plane, if he was aware of the anti -Semitic connotation, Trump denied: “I never heard him (said) in this way ”. He continued, stating: “The meaning of the term shylock is someone who borrows money to increased interest. You see him differently. I never heard that”.
The origin and controversy of the term “shylock”
The term “shylock” comes from the play of William Shakespeare the merchant in Venice, in which Shylock is a negatively portrayed Jewish servant, a character who has become the symbol of anti -Semitic prejudices. Over time, its name has been used pejoratively to designate “financial sharks”, Being considered offensive, especially in public or political contexts.
It is not for the first time that this word causes controversy in the American political discourse. In 2014, Joe Biden, then vice president, apologized after using the same expression, acknowledging that he was “an unfortunate choice of words. “
Abraham Foxman, the director of the Anti-Defamation League, then condemned the use of the term, declaring that this is “a stereotype regarding the deeply anchored Jews in society ”.
Promises and contradictions
In September 2024, before the presidential election, Trump promised to fight “The horrible wave of anti-Semitic and pro-Hamas hatred ” from the US, positioning itself as “defender“And”protector“Of the American Jewish community. All his administration is involved in steps against universities accused of having allowed pro-palestinian demonstrations on campuses.
