Film director Chris Columbus finds himself in a difficult position regarding his 1992 classic movie, “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York.”
The film includes a cameo by Donald Trump, who, as the then-owner of New York’s Plaza Hotel, allegedly insisted on the appearance as a condition for filming at the hotel.
Columbus and the film’s star, Macaulay Culkin, have expressed remorse for the cameo, with Culkin even supporting the idea of digitally removing Trump’s 7-second appearance from the film.
Despite the regrets, Columbus has stated that the Trump scene is here to stay, describing it as an “albatross” that he wishes he could remove but cannot due to potential backlash.
In 2019, the Canadian Broadcast Company edited out the cameo from their broadcast, leading to backlash from Trump supporters, despite the scene being removed in 2014 prior to Trump’s presidency.
Trump himself has strong sentiments about his role in the film and has taken Columbus’ remarks personally, responding in 2023 to claims of bullying his way into the movie by stating that he agreed to the cameo after persistent requests and that it ultimately contributed to the film’s success.
On the other hand, Culkin expressed a preference for the first “Home Alone” film in a 2018 Reddit post, citing a more grounded location in Chicago and the absence of Trump in the movie as factors for his preference.
