Chris Columbus, the director of both “Home Alone” movies, claims that Donald Trump insisted on being included in the film.
Columbus explained that Trump’s cameo was necessitated by the need to film in the hotel. He stated, “We wanted to shoot in the lobby. We couldn’t rebuild The Plaza on a soundstage.”
Usually, a production team could secure the use of a physical location by paying a fee. However, in this case, Trump desired more than just monetary compensation.
“We paid the fee, but he also said, ‘The only way you can use the Plaza is if I’m in the movie,’” Columbus added. “So we agreed to put him in the movie.”
Columbus proceeded to film the scene, but he remained uncertain about its inclusion in the final cut until the movie underwent testing with an audience.
“People cheered when Trump showed up on-screen,” the director continued. “So I said to my editor, ‘Leave him in the movie. It’s a moment for the audience.’ But he did bully his way into the movie.”
The 1992 sequel to “Home Alone,” titled “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York,” starred Macaulay Culkin in his breakthrough role as Kevin McCallister. Donald Trump, the owner of New York’s Plaza Hotel at the time, made a cameo appearance in the film.
