Former US President Donald Trump refuted claims made by director Chris Columbus that he “bullied his way into” featuring in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York.

Taking to his social media platform Truth Social, Trump countered, stating that it was the film’s production team who were “begging me to make a cameo appearance.”

Trump clarified the circumstances around the 1992 film, mentioning, “They rented the Plaza hotel in New York, which I owned at the time. I was very busy, and didn’t want to do it. They were very nice, but above all, persistent.”

Highlighting the impact of his cameo, Trump remarked, “That little cameo took off like a rocket and the movie was a big success, and still is, especially around Christmas time. People call me whenever it is aired.”

In 2020, Columbus, who directed both Home Alone movies, asserted that Trump’s cameo was a requirement to film inside the Plaza hotel. Columbus claimed Trump insisted, “The only way you can use the Plaza is if I’m in the movie.”

Dismissing Columbus’s statement, Trump reiterated, “Nothing could be further from the truth,” emphasizing the positive impact of his appearance on the film's success. He questioned why, if unwanted, his cameo had been retained for over 30 years.

The Home Alone franchise, known for Macaulay Culkin’s role as a boy stranded by his family, has become a staple for Christmas viewing. In previous years, Trump supporters raised objections when his cameo was removed from TV screenings in Canada, though the network denied political intent.

Trump’s history of cameo appearances in 80s and 90s productions has been a subject of discussion, with actor Matt Damon supporting claims that Trump often pushed for appearances in productions featuring his properties.