What’s Christmas without the Grinch? Donald Trump has lashed out against Home Alone 2: Lost in New York director Chris Columbus over comments alleging that the multi-indicted former president had to “bully” his way into his infamous cameo in the film.
It’s long been known that Trump’s bit part in Home Alone 2, in which he gives Macaulay Culkin’s Kevin McCallister directions to the Plaza Hotel lobby, was an act of quid pro quo. Trump owned the Plaza at the time, and when the production asked to film inside the iconic building, the egotistical landlord had one condition on top of the standard fee request:
“We paid the fee, but he also said, ‘The only way you can use the Plaza is if I’m in the movie,’” Columbus told Business Insider. “So we agreed to put him in the movie, and 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.’ But he did bully his way into the movie.”
Most of the time, these sorts of forced cameos get cut in final edits, but that audience response led to the (now regrettable) moment of cinematic history. Of course, Trump would never let anyone “tarnish” his unimpeachable twice-impeached reputation, so he took to his flailing Truth Social platform to lash out at Columbus’ bullying claim, insisting that his six-second appearance in the film is what made it so popular.
“Director Chris Columbus, and others, were begging me to make a cameo appearance in Home Alone 2… I was very busy, and didn’t want to do it,” Trump claims. “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… Now, however, 30 years later, Columbus (what was his real name?) put out a statement that I bullied myself into the movie. Nothing could be further from the truth. That cameo helped make the movie a success, but if they felt bullied, or didn’t want me, why did they put me in, and keep me there, for over 30 years? Because I was, and still am, great for the movie, that’s why!”
Sure, Columbus (his real name, by the way) already explained why they kept him in the movie, and it wasn’t “putting out a statement” so much as “answering an interview question,” but do we really expect Trump to pay attention to the details? He does have a point though: Why keep him in the movie now? There’s been plenty of campaigning to remove the insignificant segment from Home Alone 2, and frankly a little less Donald Trump in the world can’t be a bad thing.
Read Trump’s full statement below. Then go do something — anything — else.
It’s truly amazing how this fragile, sensitive snowflake is viewed as some kind of tough guy by the cult. What a baby. pic.twitter.com/oyyzRwzYTq
— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) December 27, 2023
