Published: : April 19, 2025, 10:56 AM
Chris Columbus, the director of Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, has described Donald Trump's brief appearance in the film as a "curse" that he’s reluctant to remove—partly out of fear it could lead to deportation due to the political climate under Trump’s administration.
Concerns over deportation have grown in recent years, especially after the Trump administration detained travelers and immigrants for extended periods, sometimes over their political beliefs. These issues have drawn attention from artists and celebrities. For instance, Canadian-American musician Neil Young voiced worries that he might be barred from returning to the U.S. after criticizing Trump. Similarly, actress Jasmine Mooney claimed she was detained for nearly two weeks in poor conditions by U.S. immigration authorities.
Now, Chris Columbus, known for hits like Mrs. Doubtfire, The Goonies, and Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, says that Trump’s appearance in Home Alone 2—a brief seven-second scene where the former president gives young Kevin directions in the Plaza Hotel—has become a burden. Speaking to the San Francisco Chronicle, Columbus said, “It’s become an albatross for me. I just wish it was gone.”
However, he feels stuck. “If I cut it, I’ll probably be sent out of the country,” Columbus joked, referencing his Italian roots and the tense atmosphere around immigration enforcement during the Trump years.
His concerns aren’t unfounded. A recent case saw a Maryland man, Abrego Garcia—married to a U.S. citizen and with no criminal history—wrongfully deported to a prison in El Salvador. The U.S. Supreme Court later deemed the deportation illegal, but the incident has intensified fears for others.
Back in 2020, Columbus revealed that Trump had strong-armed his way into the film. The director wanted to film inside the Plaza Hotel’s lobby and offered to pay, but Trump allegedly insisted: “The only way you can use the Plaza is if I’m in the movie.” Audiences initially reacted positively to Trump’s cameo, prompting Columbus to keep the scene in. But he admitted: “He did bully his way into the movie.”
In contrast, Trump claimed in a 2023 post on Truth Social that Columbus “begged” him to appear and that he was hesitant at first but eventually agreed. Trump credited his brief role for contributing to the film’s success and accused Columbus of seeking attention decades later.
Notably, Trump’s scene has already been edited out in some versions. In 2019, a Canadian broadcast of the film removed the cameo, prompting backlash from Trump supporters. Trump reacted at the time by saying the film “will never be the same” without it.
