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Director Chris Columbus, known for his work on classics such as “Kevin-alone at home” and his continuation “Kevin-in New York alone”, commented in the second part of the cult series in a current interview on Donald Trump. His words: “It’s like a curse.”
Columbus told that “San Francisco Chronicle” Literally: “Years later it became a curse. I wish that this scene had never ended up in the film.” He even described Trump’s short appearance in the hotel foyer of the Plaza Hotel as a “Albatross”, a symbol of annoying and permanent load.
But it was not without sarcasm: “I can’t cut the scene out. If I do it, I will probably be thrown out of the country,” said Columbus with a wink. “Then I would have to go back to Italy.” To classify: Columbus has Italian roots, but was born in the United States.
“Kevin – in New York alone”: It is about this scene
Trump can only be seen in “Kevin – in New York” for six seconds when he shows the young Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) to the hotel lobby. But this short moment has been causing discussions for years. Originally, the performance was a result of a deal: “We wanted to shoot the Plaza Hotel, which Trump belonged back then,” Columbus told Business Insider as early as 2020. “We paid for it, but Trump said: ‘Only when I’m in the film.’ So we cut it in. ”
At that time the audience was even thrilled in the test screening: “People cheered when he appeared. So I told my editor: Leave him in there, that’s a moment for the audience.”
But the mood has long since turned – at the latest since Trump’s presidency. As early as 2014, before his political career, the Canadian broadcaster CBC Trump’s scene had cut out of the charisma – for purely dramaturgical reasons, as it was then said. Leading actor Macaulay Culkin has also been open to the removal of the Trump Cameo in the past. And maybe Columbus’ renewed criticism brings new impetus into the debate.
By the way: Trump himself did not let Columbus’ statements from 2020 sit and claimed that the director had “begged” to show him in the film. Hollywood colleagues like Matt Damon, on the other hand, also reported Trump’s practice to only allow shooting in his real estate if he got a role in the film. Will the scene ever disappear? Unclear. But now it is certain that what was once a pop cultural gag has become a real burden for Chris Columbus.