Director Chris Columbus describes Trump's 'Home Alone 2' cameo as a 'curse'

Director Chris Columbus says that US President Donald Trump's cameo appearance in 'Home Alone 2' has become a regrettable burden more than 30 years after the film's release. In a conversation with the San Francisco Chronicle, Columbus referred to the former president's appearance as a 'millstone' and a 'curse,' admitting that he wishes the scene could be cut out. Trump appears briefly in the 1992 sequel when Macaulay Culkin's character Kevin asks for directions to the Plaza Hotel. At that time, Trump was the hotel's owner and reportedly allowed filming on the premises only if he was included in the film. 'He muscled his way into the movie,' Columbus told Business Insider, adding that the audience cheered for Trump during test screenings, leading to the scene being kept in the film. Trump later disputed Columbus' version of events. In a post on 2023 Truth Social, he claimed he did not want to appear in the film, but the producers were 'very nice, but more importantly, persistent.' He said the cameo 'took off like a rocket' and helped make the film a success. 'This cameo helped make the film a success,' Trump wrote. However, Columbus stands by his statement. 'I would never beg a non-actor to be in a movie,' he told the Chronicle. 'But we really wanted the Plaza.' 'Home Alone 2' was a box office hit, grossing 316 million euros worldwide. Nevertheless, Columbus said he felt affected by the scene: 'I wish it wasn't there.'