Chris Columbus Calls Trump’s ‘Home Alone 2’ Cameo a “Curse”

When Home Alone 2: Lost in New York premiered in 1992, it became an instant holiday classic. This heartwarming sequel followed young Kevin McCallister’s adventures through the streets (and luxury hotels) of Manhattan.

But over three decades later, the film’s director, Chris Columbus, is opening up about a brief celebrity cameo that he now deeply regrets: Donald Trump’s appearance at The Plaza Hotel.

Let’s take a closer look.

“An Albatross For Me”, Director’s Regret

In a candid interview with the San Francisco Chronicle published on April 14, Columbus didn’t hold back his feelings about Trump’s now-infamous cameo.

“It’s become this curse,” Columbus admitted. “It’s become this thing that I wish it was not there.”

Columbus, known for directing Home Alone, Mrs. Doubtfire, and the first two Harry Potter films, reflected on how what seemed like a minor moment in the movie has taken on unexpected weight in recent years.

“It’s an albatross for me,” he added. “I just wish it was gone.”

How Trump Ended Up in the Movie

In Home Alone 2, Macaulay Culkin’s character Kevin finds himself at The Plaza Hotel in New York City, trying to survive alone in the Big Apple.

As he wanders into the opulent lobby, he bumps into none other than Donald Trump, who briefly gives him directions.

The cameo lasts just a few seconds, but has sparked years of debate.

At the time of filming, Trump owned The Plaza Hotel. In a 2020 interview with Business Insider, Columbus claimed Trump “did bully” his way into the film by making his appearance a condition for allowing the production to shoot on location.

“He said I was lying,” Columbus now says in response to Trump’s pushback.

“I’m not lying. He said I begged him to be in the movie, but there’s no way I would ever beg a non-actor to be in a movie. But we were desperate to get the Plaza Hotel.”

Trump Disputes the Story

Trump, now 78, offered his version of events in 2023 via a post on his Truth Social platform.

“I was very busy, and didn’t want to do it,” Trump wrote, according to the Chronicle.

“They were very nice, but above all, persistent. I agreed, and the rest is history! That little cameo took off like a rocket, and the movie was a big success, and still is, especially around Christmas time. People call me whenever it is aired. Now, however, 30 years later, Columbus (what was his real name?) put out a statement that I bullied myself into the movie. Nothing could be further from the truth. That cameo helped make the movie a success … Just another Hollywood guy from the past looking for a quick fix of Trump publicity for himself!”

Columbus did not directly respond to the statement at the time, but recently shared more about his thought process back when the movie was in editing.

Why the Scene Stayed In

Interestingly, Columbus says he initially planned to cut Trump’s scene. But the audience’s reaction changed his mind.

“We screened the film in Chicago, and when that moment came onscreen, the audience went crazy,” Columbus said.

“They cheered and they cheered and they thought it was hilarious. I think I know a lot about comedy, but I don’t, obviously, because I never thought that was going to be considered hilarious.”

Despite the crowd-pleasing moment, he now views the cameo as a liability, especially in light of Trump’s political career and the polarizing figure he’s become.

“I can’t cut it now,” Columbus said. “I’ll be considered sort of not fit to live in the United States, so I’ll have to go back to Italy or something,” he added, alluding to Trump-era deportation policies and his own Italian roots.

Trump’s Other Cameos, and Calls to Remove Him

Before his political career, Trump had several film cameos, including in Little Rascals, The Associate, and Zoolander. But none have attracted as much attention as his brief moment in Home Alone 2.

In 2019, Trump jokingly tweeted, “The movie will never be the same! (just kidding),” after learning that his scene had been cut from Canadian broadcasts. However, the Canadian network later clarified that the edit was made in 2014, long before his political rise, purely due to time constraints.

Meanwhile, calls to remove the scene entirely have circulated online, with actor Macaulay Culkin even showing his support. In 2021, a fan tweeted, “Petition to digitally replace trump in ‘home alone 2’ with 40-year-old macaulay culkin.” Culkin simply replied, “Sold.”

A Scene Frozen in Time

More than thirty years later, a moment intended as a fun celebrity cameo now feels far more loaded.

For Columbus, it’s a reminder of how quickly pop culture can shift, and how decisions made in post-production can follow filmmakers for decades.

“But it’s there,” he said. “And I just wish it was gone.”

Conclusion

• Director Chris Columbus has expressed deep regret over including Donald Trump’s cameo in Home Alone 2, calling it a “curse” and “an albatross.”
• Trump appeared in a brief scene at The Plaza Hotel, which he owned at the time of filming in 1992.
• Columbus claims Trump insisted on being in the movie as a condition for allowing the production to shoot at the hotel.
• Initially, Columbus planned to cut the cameo, but audience reactions during a test screening were so positive that he decided to leave it in.
• Trump has denied bullying his way into the role, claiming he was persuaded to do the cameo and that it contributed to the film’s success.
• Columbus firmly denies Trump’s version: “There’s no world I would ever beg a non-actor to be in a movie.”
• The director now feels unable to remove the scene, saying doing so might spark backlash:
  “I’ll have to go back to Italy or something,” he joked, referencing Trump’s past deportation rhetoric.
• Trump had other cameos in films like the Little Rascals, Zoolander, and The Associate before embarking on his political career.
• In 2021, actor Macaulay Culkin supported fan calls to digitally remove Trump from the movie, replying “Sold” to a fan tweet suggesting it.
• Trump’s scene was cut from Canadian broadcasts in 2014 due to time constraints, not political reasons.

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