President Trump Uses Antisemitic Slur Defending Sen. Roger Marshall at Kansas Rally

President Donald Trump used an antisemitic slur Monday while defending Senator Roger Marshall, R-Kan., during a campaign rally in Kansas. The remarks came amid controversy over Marshall’s past lawsuits against patients for unpaid medical debts.

Trump’s Use of the Term “Shylock” Sparks Outrage

At the rally, President Trump referred to reporting about Marshall suing hundreds of patients as making the senator out to be “some kind of a shylock-type guy.” The term “shylock” is widely recognized as offensive toward Jewish people and originates from a Jewish moneylender character in Shakespeare’s play “The Merchant of Venice.” The Anti-Defamation League notes that the character and the term have long been associated with negative Jewish stereotypes involving moneylending and exploitation.

This is not the first time President Trump has used the slur; he invoked the term last year in a speech promoting a domestic policy bill, describing exploitative bankers that way. At that time, some Jewish groups condemned his usage. Trump denied awareness of the term’s antisemitic connotations, stating, “To me, shylock is somebody that’s a moneylender at high rates.” The White House did not immediately comment on Monday’s remarks.

Senator Marshall’s Controversy Over Medical Debt Lawsuits

Senator Roger Marshall, an obstetrician-gynecologist, has faced backlash after a New York Times article last month revealed he sued more than 700 patients for unpaid medical bills during his time as a practicing physician. The lawsuits led to dozens of arrest warrants for patients who missed court dates. Marshall’s lawyer asserted the senator had no involvement in the warrants or arrests, and Marshall himself called the article a “hit job.” President Trump referred to the reporting as unfair, telling Marshall onstage, “You got screwed with that stuff,” without naming the publication.

The Kansas Senate Race and Its Stakes

Marshall has served as Kansas’ U.S. senator since 2021 and is currently in a tighter-than-expected reelection race against Democrat Adam Hamilton. Hamilton is a megachurch pastor and former Republican who considered running as an independent before entering the race as a Democrat. He has garnered endorsements from prominent Republicans and Democrats in Kansas, making the contest highly competitive.

Political analysts are divided on the race’s outlook. The Cook Political Report labels the contest a “toss-up,” while NBC News categorizes it as competitive but leaning Republican.

President Trump’s use of an antisemitic slur in defense of Marshall has added another layer of controversy to an already contentious Senate race in Kansas.