‘Home Alone 2’ Director Says Trump’s Cameo Is a ‘Curse’ — Feared ‘Extreme Retaliation’ If Scene Was Cut
More than three decades after its release, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York is back in the headlines — not for its slapstick comedy or holiday charm, but for a controversial cameo that continues to haunt its director. In a recent interview, filmmaker Chris Columbus called Donald Trump’s brief appearance in the film a “curse,” admitting he feared serious backlash if he ever dared to cut the scene.
The now-infamous moment takes place in New York’s Plaza Hotel, where young Kevin McCallister (played by Macaulay Culkin) asks a sharply dressed Trump for directions to the lobby. Trump, then a real estate mogul and owner of the hotel, delivers a quick line — and, according to Columbus, insisted on the cameo in exchange for filming access.
“We wanted to shoot at the Plaza, and Trump essentially said, ‘Only if I’m in the movie,’” Columbus recalled. “So we put him in. It was a deal we felt forced into.”
While the scene was a throwaway moment at the time, it gained renewed attention in recent years as Trump’s political profile skyrocketed. Calls to remove the scene from the film began circulating online, particularly after his presidency. Even Macaulay Culkin, the film’s star, responded to fan suggestions that the cameo be digitally erased — saying he was “on board” with the idea.
But Columbus revealed a deeper reason for why he never considered cutting it, even in re-releases: fear.
“There was a moment where we debated editing it out for television airings, just to avoid the political heat,” Columbus said. “But honestly, we were worried about extreme retaliation. Legal threats, public smears, even political pressure — nothing felt off the table.”
Columbus described the cameo as “the one part of the movie that ages worse every year,” saying it draws more attention than it ever deserved. “It interrupts the movie’s tone. People cheer or boo depending on their politics — and that’s not what this movie was supposed to be about.”
Despite the controversy, Home Alone 2 remains a holiday staple, and Trump’s appearance continues to spark mixed reactions. Some viewers treat it as a quirky pop culture artifact, while others see it as an unnecessary reminder of a deeply polarizing figure.
Film critics have weighed in, too. “It’s a fascinating case of how a two-second cameo can overshadow an entire film legacy,” said Claire Dunham, a cinema historian. “The context of a person’s later life can retroactively change how we experience even the most innocent media.”
As for Columbus, he stands by his regret. “If I could go back, I’d tell myself to shoot around him, find another hotel, or just deal with the headache,” he said. “Because in hindsight, that cameo didn’t come free — it came with baggage.”
Whether audiences see it as a harmless moment or a regrettable relic, one thing is clear: few film cameos have aged with as much controversy — or consequence — as this one.
