**Former President Trump Denies Bullying His Way Into “Home Alone 2” Cameo**
By David Propper
Published Dec. 28, 2023, 2:19 a.m. ET
Former President Donald Trump has responded to resurfaced allegations that he insisted on appearing in “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York” by denying accusations of bullying his way into the holiday classic.
The bombastic ex-president and former New Yorker denied claims that he muscled his way into a scene where wandering Kevin McCallister, played by Macauley Culkin, asked Trump for directions to the lobby inside the Plaza Hotel in the 1992 film.
The movie’s director, Chris Columbus, told Business Insider in 2020 that Trump, who owned the famous hotel at the time, would only allow him to shoot there if he was 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,'” Columbus reportedly said. “So we agreed to put him in the movie.”
Columbus initially considered cutting Trump’s scene but decided to keep it after the audience cheered when the former president appeared on screen.
Trump rebutted the allegations on Wednesday, claiming that Columbus and others “were begging” him to have a role in the film. “I was very busy, and didn’t want to do it,” Trump said. “They were very nice, but above all, persistent. I agreed, and the rest is history!”
Addressing Columbus’ bullying claim, Trump stated, “Nothing could be further from the truth.” He also insisted that his cameo helped make the movie a success and questioned why, if they felt bullied or didn’t want him, they kept him in the film for over 30 years.
The debate over Trump’s cameo in “Home Alone 2” continues, with the former president standing by his version of events and denying any wrongdoing in securing his appearance in the iconic holiday film.