Chris Columbus, the director of the iconic Christmas classic Home Alone, recently opened up about the controversial cameo featuring former President Donald Trump. In a conversation with Business Insider, Columbus discussed the success of the franchise and shed light on how Trump secured his appearance in the film.
Columbus shared that, like many locations in New York City, they approached The Plaza Hotel, owned by Trump at the time, to shoot in the lobby. Unable to recreate The Plaza on a soundstage, they sought permission to film on location. While Trump agreed to allow filming, he presented a condition – he wanted a cameo in the movie.
“We paid the fee, but he also said, ‘The only way you can use the Plaza is if I’m in the movie,'” explained Columbus. Reluctantly, they agreed to include Trump in the film.
During the first screening, the unexpected happened. “People cheered when Trump showed up on-screen,” revealed Columbus. Despite any controversy, he and the editor decided to keep the cameo in the movie.
Columbus concluded, “But he did bully his way into the movie,” shedding light on the unique story behind Trump’s appearance in the holiday classic.
