Trump Defends Marshall With Antisemitic Slur
Sandra Rhodes · Oct 20, 2026 · 2 min read
President Donald Trump wanted to defend Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kansas) at a rally Monday, but did so using an antisemitic slur.
It has been reported Marshall sued patients for medical debt as an obstetrician-gynecologist.
"They made it like, oh, he was some kind of a shylock guy," Trump said in Kansas. Marshall, who is running for reelection, is not Jewish.
Trump has apparently used this term before. The word is deemed an antisemitic slur by the Anti-Defamation League.
Trump used it at an event in July 2025 in Iowa to kick off America 250 celebrations when he described some bankers as "shylocks."
This sparked outrage by anti-bigotry groups.
"President Trump's use of the term is very troubling and irresponsible," the Anti-Defamation League wrote in a July 2025 statement. "It 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."
The Anti-Defamation League posted a new statement on Oct. 20, but left out the president's name.
"The term 'Shylock' is rooted in a longstanding antisemitic stereotype. Regardless of intent, its use can reinforce harmful tropes about Jews and normalize language that has long been used to target the Jewish community,” it wrote.
Comments (2)
From Grok: "Shylock is the Jewish moneylender in William Shakespeare’s play The Merchant of Venice (c. 1596–1599). Key traits and role He lends money to the Christian merchant Antonio, who in turn finances his friend Bassanio’s courtship of Portia. When Antonio defaults, Shylock insists on the bond’s literal terms: a pound of Antonio’s flesh. Famous for the speech “Hath not a Jew eyes?” (Act 3, Scene 1), in which he argues for his shared humanity while also justifying revenge. At the trial, Portia (disguised as a lawyer) outmaneuvers him with a technical reading of the bond; Shylock is forced to convert to Christianity and forfeit his wealth. Cultural legacy The character has long been contested: some productions emphasize antisemitic stereotypes of the era; others portray him as a complex, mistreated outsider driven to extremism by the society around him. Modern stagings often highlight the play’s tensions around justice, mercy, prejudice, and revenge. If you’re looking for a specific angle—summary of the plot, analysis of a speech, performance history, adaptations, or something else—just say the word."
"Shylock" is a character from Shakespeare. It has come to mean "Loan shark" in the common vernacular of New York. This stems from Jews being able to lend money to Christians...an occupation or practice that was banned by Christianity. The criminal practice of loan sharking had not been a serious religious issue for many hundreds of years, and almost every Loan Shark I have come across or heard about, belonged to other, non-jewish, criminal elements. To maintain that Trump is anti-semitic for using an antique term in common usage is just political correctness running wild again!
