'Home Alone 2' director Chris Columbus reveals real reason behind Trump's surprising cameo in film

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Award-winning director Chris Columbus explained the real reason why Donald Trump's cameo was included in 'Home Alone 2: Lost in New York'.

The 1992 sequel, a holiday favorite worldwide, saw Macaulay Culkin return as Kevin McCallister, who accidentally boarded the wrong flight during his family's trip to Florida. He famously ended up in New York City alone, armed with his father's credit card.

How Donald Trump made his way into 'Home Alone 2'?

After checking into the Plaza Hotel, which was owned by Donald Trump, Kevin once again crossed paths with two thieves, Harry and Marv (played by Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern), who had just escaped from prison.

The sequel also brought back Catherine O'Hara and the late John Heard as Kevin's parents, along with Tim Curry and Rob Schneider, who starred as hotel staff members.

But arguably the most memorable cameo of all featured the President-elect briefly crossing paths with Kevin in the hotel hallway to give him directions.

However, in a 2020 interview with Business Insider, the director revealed that Trump had allowed the crew to film at the hotel only on the condition that he could appear in the movie.

"Like most locations in New York City, you just pay a fee and you are allowed to shoot in that location," Columbus revealed.

"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."

The director further added, "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'."

After including Trump's cameo in the initial screenings, it was the reaction it received that influenced Columbus' decision.

"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,’" he explained.

Donald Trump responds to 'bullied' cameo claims in 'Home Alone 2'

In response to claims that Donald Trump had "bullied" his way into the movie, the politician took to his social media platform, Truth Social, to address the matter in 2023.

Director Chris Columbus, and others, were begging me to make a cameo appearance in ‘Home Alone 2,’ ” Trump wrote. “They rented the Plaza Hotel in New York, which I owned at the time. I was very busy, and didn’t want to do it. They were very nice, but above all, persistent. I agreed, and the rest is history!"

“That little cameo took off like a rocket and the movie was a big success, and still is, especially around Christmastime,” he added. “People call me whenever it is aired.”