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← Signal: State & Power

ADL Condemns Antisemitic Slur Without Naming Trump as User

Confirmed1 source · Oct 20, 2026

The Anti-Defamation League posted a general warning about the term 'Shylock' after Trump used it in a Kansas rally speech, but did not identify him by name.

ADL Condemns Antisemitic Slur Without Naming Trump as User
Image via The Guardian

What happened

Donald Trump used the antisemitic slur 'shylock' on Monday night at a rally in Kansas supporting Republican senator Roger Marshall, describing Marshall's critics as having 'made it like, oh, he was some kind of a shylock-type guy.' The next day, the ADL posted on social media that the term 'Shylock' is rooted in antisemitic stereotypes and can reinforce harmful tropes about Jews, but made no mention of Trump or the context of his use. Critics, including former Sanders adviser Matt Duss, noted the ADL did not name Trump despite the organization's stated mission to combat antisemitism. Trump has used the slur previously during a 2025 Iowa rally; the day after that rally, the ADL called that use 'very troubling and irresponsible.' When asked by a reporter if he had intended to use the word 'shylocks' to refer to Jews, Trump claimed ignorance, stating 'To me, a shylock is somebody that's a, uh, a moneylender at high rates. I've never heard it that way.'

Context

The ADL's failure to name Trump has prompted accusations that the organization applies its antisemitism condemnations selectively. Some observers suggest the civil rights group may be reluctant to directly criticize Trump because of his support for Israel and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The contrast is noted with the ADL's past handling of similar language—in 2014, the organization accepted an apology from then-Vice President Joe Biden for using the same term and framed it as 'a teachable moment.' The incident raises questions about consistency in how mainstream Jewish American organizations address antisemitic rhetoric depending on the speaker's political alignment and positions on Israel.

What's disputed

Trump claims ignorance of antisemitic connotations of 'shylock,' stating he understands it only as a reference to high-rate moneylenders. The ADL's characterization differs, but the source does not report whether Trump's stated definition is factually disputed by the organization.