'Home Alone 2' Trump Explains Controversy Over Power Abuse, Citing "Request from Production Team"

Late Rebuttal After 3 Years of Power Abuse Controversy
"I Starred and Led the Movie to Success" Self-Praise

Former U.S. President Donald Trump, who made a cameo appearance in the iconic Christmas movie Home Alone 2, which is often associated with Christmas, denied allegations of "bullying appearance," claiming that he appeared because the production team begged him to do so.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump made a special appearance in the movie "Home Alone 2." [Image source: Screenshot from "Home Alone 2"]

On the 28th (local time), Trump posted on his social media platform "Truth Social," stating, "About 30 years ago, director Chris Columbus and the production team begged me to make a cameo appearance in the movie Home Alone 2." He added, "At the time, I was very busy and did not want to appear, but the people involved were persistent, so I agreed." Trump made headlines for appearing in a scene at the New York Plaza Hotel, which he owned, in the film released in 1992.

Regarding this, director Columbus claimed in a 2020 interview, "Trump insisted that if we were going to film at the New York Plaza Hotel, he had to appear in the movie," adding, "He said that was the only way we could film at the hotel." Columbus said, "So we agreed to include Trump in the film," and recalled, "The strangest thing happened when the movie first premiered?people started cheering when Trump appeared on screen." He continued, "So I told the editor, 'This is a moment for the audience, so don't cut that scene,'" but added, "However, he did 'bully' to get his appearance."

In response, Trump unexpectedly refuted Columbus's claim after three years, saying, "Nothing could be further from the truth." He stated, "The movie succeeded because of my cameo appearance," and questioned, "If I had acted like a thug and they didn't want me, why would they have left me in the movie for 30 years without editing me out?" He self-praised, saying, "I was outstanding in the movie and still am," and claimed, "Another Hollywood figure is trying to capitalize on the Trump effect again."

Meanwhile, ahead of the U.S. Republican presidential primary starting in January next year, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley has been rapidly rising, prompting Trump to appear concerned about public opinion. Haley, who is advocating for generational change and differentiation, trailed Trump by just 4 percentage points within the margin of error in a poll released on the 22nd.