The director of Home Alone 2 described Trump’s cameo as a ‘curse’ and revealed concerns about major backlash if the scene is removed.
Chris Columbus, director of Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, calls Donald Trump’s cameo a “curse”.
He alo says removing it could trigger extreme political retaliation.
Director Chris Columbus says Trump’s cameo in Home Alone 2 is a lingering burden
Chris Columbus, director of the classic Christmas film Home Alone 2, says Donald Trump’s brief appearance in the movie feels like a “curse.”
Though the cameo only lasts seven seconds, Columbus has expressed repeated regret over including it.
Over three decades later, he wishes he could cut the scene—but says doing so might spark serious consequences.
In a new interview, Columbus told the San Francisco Chronicle.
“I can’t cut it,” Columbus told the San Francisco Chronicle. “If I cut it, I’ll probably be sent out of the country. I’ll be considered sort of not fit to live in the United States, so I’ll have to go back to Italy or something.”
He then joked about moving back to Italy, referencing past immigration crackdowns under the Trump administration.
Trump ‘bullied’ his way into the movie, says Columbus
Columbus has often revisited the story of how Donald Trump ended up in the film.
In a 2020 interview with Business Insider, he explained that filming inside New York’s Plaza Hotel—owned by Trump at the time—came with conditions.
Trump required a cameo in exchange for allowing the production to film there
“We approached The Plaza Hotel because we wanted to shoot in the lobby,” Columbus said. “Trump said the only way we could film there was if he got a part in the movie.”
The production team reluctantly agreed, and the cameo stayed in the final cut after test audiences surprisingly applauded when Trump appeared on screen.
Columbus admitted it was a crowd-pleaser at the time but added that Trump essentially forced his way into the film.
Trump responds, claims his cameo boosted the film’s success
Donald Trump fired back in a Truth Social post in 2023.
He accused Columbus of seeking relevance through controversy.
“If they didn’t want me, why keep me in for 30 years?” Trump wrote. “I was, and still am, great for the movie. Just another Hollywood guy chasing Trump publicity!”
He insisted that his appearance contributed to the film’s success and dismissed the director’s criticism as opportunistic.
Scene has already been removed in some TV broadcasts
Despite Columbus’s hesitation, the Trump cameo was cut from the Home Alone 2 broadcast aired by Canadian broadcaster CBC in 2019.
The network explained that the cut was made for time and that the scene “was not integral to the plot.”
This move drew both praise and criticism at the time.
It sparked conversations about politics in entertainment and the cultural weight of even a short on-screen moment.
Columbus faces a dilemma in today’s politically charged climate
Chris Columbus remains torn about what to do with the infamous cameo.
On one hand, he views the inclusion of Donald Trump as a stain on the film’s legacy.
On the other, he fears the potential backlash, especially from political supporters of the former president.
“It’s just not that easy to remove a scene,” he said, adding that the political climate makes even small decisions potentially explosive.