Everett Collection
There was no bullying involved in the Donald Trump cameo in 1992’s Home Alone 2, says the former president, responding to claims by the film’s director, Chris Columbus, that he “bullied” his way into the picture.
“Nothing could be further from the truth,” Trump said on social media on Wednesday. “That cameo helped make the movie a success. But if they felt bullied, or didn’t want me, why did they put me in, and keep me there for over 30 years?”
Trump said he was begged to appear, but was “very busy” at the time and “didn’t want to do it.” But the filmmakers were “persistent,” so he agreed.
Trump has been accused of applying a quid pro quo for the filming at his Plaza Hotel.
“Like most locations in New York City, you just pay a fee and you are allowed to shoot in that location,” said Columbus. “We approached The Plaza Hotel, which Trump owned at the time, because we wanted to shoot in the lobby. We couldn’t rebuild The Plaza on a soundstage,” Columbus said in an interview with Business Insider.
“Trump said OK. We paid the fee, but he also said, ‘The only way you can use the Plaza is if I’m in the movie,’” Columbus explained. “So we agreed to put him in the movie, and when we screened it for the first time the oddest thing happened: People cheered when Trump showed up on-screen. 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.”
Home Alone 2: Lost in New York was released in 1992, two years after the original. The sequel follows Culkin’s Kevin McCallister as he finds himself lost in the Big Apple while his family travels to Florida. McCallister is sought once again by the Wet Bandits after their escape from prison.
Armando Tinoco contributed to this story.
