Key facts
- ADL denounced the use of "shylock" as antisemitic.
- Trump used the slur "shylock" in a speech on Monday.
- ADL's statement did not name Trump.
- Critics accused the ADL of selective application of antisemitism standards.
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) on Tuesday denounced the use of the slur "shylock" as antisemitic, but did not name Donald Trump, who had used the term the previous day. Trump employed the slur during a rally in Kansas, criticizing his opponent's handling of patient lawsuits. Critics accused the ADL of selectively applying its standards, suggesting the organization would have been more direct if a Democrat had used the term. The ADL stated that the term "Shylock" is rooted in antisemitic stereotypes and can reinforce harmful tropes about Jewish people, regardless of intent. This incident follows Trump's endorsement of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.