President Donald Trump used an antisemitic slur Monday during a campaign rally in Kansas while defending Republican Sen. Roger Marshall over past lawsuits against hundreds of medical patients, drawing fresh scrutiny to his rhetoric ahead of competitive midterm elections.
Speaking to about 5,000 supporters at an arena outside Wichita, Trump pushed back against coverage of Marshall, an obstetrician-gynecologist who represented Kansas in the House before his Senate election in 2020. The New York Times reported last month that Marshall sued more than 700 former patients over unpaid medical bills during his medical practice, which led to dozens of arrest warrants for missed court hearings.
Addressing the crowd and Marshall directly, Trump insisted the lawmaker had been treated unfairly by media coverage. Trump asserted that Marshall was legally obligated to pursue the debts, claiming the reporting made Marshall out to be “some kind of a shylock-type guy,” according to NBC News and CNN. Trump added, “If he didn’t make these requests, he would be breaking the law. He would have been breaking a very strong criminal law, and he would be subject to criminal arrest and liability.”
Origins and Past Backlash Over the Term
The term derives from Shylock, a Jewish moneylender depicted in William Shakespeare’s play “The Merchant of Venice.” The Anti-Defamation League notes in educational materials that the character has long been used to promote hateful caricatures depicting Jewish people as greedy, deceitful and heartless. The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding Trump’s remarks, NBC News reported.
Monday was not the first time Trump has faced criticism for invoking the slur. In July 2025, while promoting his legislative agenda in Iowa, Trump used the same term to describe predatory lenders, CNN reported. At that time, Trump denied knowing the word carried antisemitic connotations, telling reporters, “To me, shylock is somebody that’s a moneylender at high rates,” and asserting that he had “never heard it that way.” The ADL denounced the 2025 remarks as “very troubling and irresponsible.” Other national political figures have encountered controversy over the term in the past; former President Joe Biden apologized after using the word in an address in 2014.
A Tightly Contested Senate Battle in Kansas
The rally underscored unusual political vulnerabilities for Republicans in a state that has not sent a Democrat to the U.S. Senate since 1932. Trump acknowledged the changing political dynamics to the crowd, stating, “You’re really sort of – I hate to say it – you’re sort of tending toward the purple.”
Marshall is facing an unexpectedly formidable challenge from Democrat Adam Hamilton, a former Republican and founding pastor of the 24,000-member Church of the Resurrection, the largest United Methodist congregation in the United States, The Guardian reported. In the third quarter of campaign fundraising, Hamilton brought in $11 million compared to Marshall’s $800,000, according to The Guardian. Nonpartisan race raters at The Cook Political Report classify the contest as a toss-up, while NBC News lists it as competitive but leaning toward the Republican Party.
Marshall called the news reports regarding his former medical practice a “hit job,” and his attorney stated the senator had no direct involvement in the issuance of warrants or arrests. Onstage Monday, Marshall attacked Hamilton, asserting the Democratic challenger was “too woke for Kansas.” Trump also unleashed caustic attacks on Hamilton, labeling him a “radical left lunatic,” according to The Guardian.
National economic strains have added pressure to the race. Kansas farmers have struggled with soaring fuel expenses, with diesel approaching $6 a gallon amid the ongoing conflict involving Iran, The Guardian reported. During the event, Trump unveiled an $8 billion federal program intended to help farmers offset diesel costs during the autumn harvest season.
With early voting underway across several states and control of the Senate hanging in the balance, voters will decide on Election Day whether Marshall holds the seat or if Hamilton delivers Democrats an upset victory.
