'Home Alone' Director Wasn't Exactly Thrilled To Have Donald Trump's Cameo in the Sequel

It’s hard to believe that 30 years have gone by since Macauley Culkin graced us with one of the most iconic modern-era Christmas films, Home Alone. He was only eight years old at the time, but America fell in love with the savvy kid, who got left at home during the holidays and foiled a pair of rather inept home burglars. 

Director Chris Columbus, who helmed the first two movies, spoke to Business Insider about his recollections of making the film, and why he was less than thrilled to have Donald Trump in the sequel. Columbus recalled to the media outlet how the cameo came about in the first place since he had not written a role for the then-real estate magnet in the script. 

He described the obstacle the production was facing around The Plaza Hotel location. “Like most locations in New York City, you just pay a fee, and you are allowed to shoot in that location,” he explained. “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.”

Donald Trump gave Columbus permission to film at the iconic hotel under one specific condition. Columbus reminisced, “We paid the fee, but he also said, ‘The only way you can use the Plaza is if I’m in the movie.'” He wasn’t going to miss an opportunity to be in front of the cameras and promote himself. The director pondered editing out the footage before it made it to the big screen, but he left it in to see the audience’s reaction.

“When we screened it for the first time the oddest thing happened: People cheered when Trump showed up on-screen,” Columbus noted. “So I said to my editor, ‘Leave him in the movie. It’s a moment for the audience.'” Donald Trump had his time to shine with Culkin. It was basically a throwaway line as Culkin’s character asks, “Excuse me, where’s the lobby?”

Donald Trump responds, “Down the hall and to the left,” as he gazes at the camera lens for a moment of extra screen time. His 1992 cameo was sealed in Hollywood and real estate history forever as he only owned The Plaza Hotel until 1995. 

As for Columbus, he’s never forgotten what it was like working with the former president. He summed it up in nine words, “But he did bully his way into the movie.”

Before you go, click here to see all the nostalgic hits getting movie and TV reboots.