The Anti-Defamation League, a Jewish advocacy group, also criticized Mr. Trump’s use of the word. “The term ‘Shylock’ evokes a centuries-old antisemitic trope about Jews and greed that is extremely offensive and dangerous,” the group posted on social media.

President Trump said he was unaware that the term “shylock” is considered antisemitic, after using it during his Iowa speech Thursday to describe lenders that add too many conditions on their loans. Trump said he “never heard it that way” and did not recognize that it was an offensive term for Jewish people.