Former President Donald Trump is pushing back against allegations that he “bullied” his way into a cameo in the 1992 holiday film Home Alone 2: Lost In New York.
Background
Earlier this week, Home Alone director Chris Columbus stated in an interview that Trump had essentially forced his way into the movie by refusing to allow filming at New York’s Plaza Hotel unless he was given a cameo.
However, Trump is now counteracting that claim, stating that producers were “begging” him to film at the Plaza andGive your article an interesting and descriptive title
## Timeline of Events
| Date | Event |
|-|-|
| 1992 | Trump films cameo in Home Alone 2 |
| 2022 | Scene edited out of Canadian TV broadcast |
| Dec 2023 | Director says Trump "bullied" way into cameo |
| Dec 28, 2023 | Trump denies claims, says he was "begged" to be in film |
Trump: Filmmakers Were “Begging Me” for Cameo
In an interview with The Guardian on December 28th, Trump ardently rejected Columbus’ version of events regarding the Home Alone 2 cameo.
“It turned out to be a very nice cameo,” Trump said, before slamming the director’s allegations as “not true” and “just made up”. The former president then went a step further – claiming that far from bullying his way in, the filmmakers were desperately lobbying for his participation.
“They were begging me to do the cameo,” Trump asserted. “It was going to be a big hit and they begged.”
Trump: My Cameo Made Film More Successful
Never shy about self-promotion, Trump also gave himself credit for the huge success of Home Alone 2, which made nearly $360 million at the worldwide box office.
“It’s an honor to have done it,” Trump said about his cameo. “Frank Sinatra and everyone wanted to be in that movie.” He then added: “It went on to become a very big Christmas hit. Perhaps because I was in it.”
Columbus: Trump Demanded Cameo for Filming Rights
Columbus, who directed the original Home Alone as well as the second installment, first revealed details about Trump’s Home Alone 2 appearance during a recent interview with Insider.
He explained that the only way Trump would allow the crew to film inside New York’s Plaza Hotel – which Trump owned at the time – was if he got some screen time.
“We paid the fee, but he also said, ‘The only way you can use the Plaza is if I’m in the movie’,” Columbus recalled. “So we agreed to put him in the movie.”
Home Alone 2 Scene Recently Edited Out in Canada
Trump’s role in Home Alone 2 – essentially giving Macaulay Culkin’s character directions in the Plaza lobby – lasts less than 10 seconds.
However, the cameo gained renewed attention in 2019 when the scene featuring Trump was cut from a Canadian television broadcast of the film. Editors claimed the scene was not integral to the plot.
The move sparked outrage among Trump supporters at the time. Trump himself labeled Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as “two-faced” over the incident.
What Next?
Trump shows no signs of backing down from his version of how the Home Alone 2 cameo transpired – that far from bullying or payments, he was courted by producers.
Meanwhile, Columbus and others involved with the film have yet to respond to Trump’s latest denials. But the mini-controversy shows no signs of fading from the headlines anytime soon.
So while Trump’s scene remains an indelible part of a beloved holiday classic, debate around it may continue on well past Christmas 2023.
To err is human, but AI does it too. Whilst factual data is used in the production of these articles, the content is written entirely by AI. Double check any facts you intend to rely on with another source.
