President Donald Trump used the antisemitic slur 'Shylock' during an October 19, 2026 rally in Kansas while defending Republican Senator Roger Marshall over past medical debt collection lawsuits. Marshall's former practice sued over 700 patients, leading to arrest warrants. Trump insisted Marshall acted lawfully and did nothing wrong. The slur previously drew condemnation from the Anti-Defamation League when Trump used it in July 2025. Marshall faces a competitive reelection fight against Democrat Adam Hamilton.
Trump uses 'Shylock' slur
- ▪The term 'Shylock' originates from a Jewish moneylender character in William Shakespeare's play 'The Merchant of Venice' and is recognized as an offensive usurer stereotype
- ▪Donald Trump used the antisemitic slur 'Shylock' while defending Senator Roger Marshall at a campaign rally in Park City, Kansas on October 19, 2026
Roger Marshall medical debt lawsuits
- ▪Prior to entering politics, Senator Roger Marshall worked as an obstetrician-gynecologist whose practice sued over 700 patients for unpaid medical bills, according to The New York Times
- ▪The debt collection lawsuits filed by Roger Marshall's former medical practice resulted in wage garnishments and arrest warrants for patients who missed court appearances
Trump defends Marshall's billing
- ▪Donald Trump argued Roger Marshall did nothing wrong regarding patient arrests and criticized media coverage and campaign attack ads targeting Marshall's former medical practice
- ▪At an October 19, 2026 rally, Donald Trump claimed Roger Marshall was legally required to pursue unpaid medical bills from his patients and would have violated criminal law had he not
Previous 2025 'Shylock' controversy
- ▪Following backlash in July 2025, Donald Trump claimed he was unaware of the antisemitic meaning of 'Shylock,' asserting he understood it only as high-interest moneylending
- ▪Donald Trump previously used the slur 'Shylock' at a July 2025 campaign rally in Iowa when describing bankers during a speech on domestic policy
- ▪Former President Joe Biden faced criticism and subsequently apologized in 2014 for using the word 'Shylock.'
ADL condemnation of term
- ▪The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding Donald Trump's October 19, 2026 remarks in Kansas
- ▪The Anti-Defamation League condemned Donald Trump's 2025 use of 'Shylock' as troubling and irresponsible, noting it reinforces harmful antisemitic tropes regarding Jewish people and greed
Marshall's competitive Kansas race
- ▪Senator Roger Marshall faces Democratic candidate Adam Hamilton, a former Republican and megachurch pastor, in the 2026 Kansas Senate election
- ▪The nonpartisan Cook Political Report designated the 2026 Kansas Senate contest between Roger Marshall and Adam Hamilton a toss-up, while NBC News rated it competitive leaning Republican
Story comments
Loading comments…