Donald Trump Fires Back At ‘Home Alone’ Director After Bullying Allegation

Former President Donald Trump is not staying silent after being accused of bullying by the director of the classic film "Home Alone."

The political heavyweight, known for his robust and often controversial thoughts, has unleashed a counterpunch through his own social media platform. 

On X (formerly Twitter), a user quoted the 77-year-old's rant shared on his Truth Social platform alongside the caption, "Trump focusing on the big issues like the director of Home Alone 2 saying mean things about him." 

In the lengthy statement, Trump asserted that the filmmakers were "begging" him to make the appearance in the 1992 film, shot at the Plaza Hotel he owned at the time. He expressed his version of events, saying:

"I was very busy, and didn't want to do it. They were nice, but above all, persistent. I agreed, and the rest is history!"

The businessman emphasized the movie's success, especially during Christmas, highlighting that his cameo took off "like a rocket." Trump also pointed out that people still contacted him whenever the movie aired.

He defended his presence in the film by questioning further, "If they felt bullied, or didn't want me, why did they put me in, and keep me there, for over 30 years?" The entrepreneur argued that his appearance contributed to the film's enduring popularity and remained significant.

The actor suggested that Columbus was seeking publicity by making such statements. "Just another Hollywood guy from the past looking for a quick fix of Trump publicity for himself!" he vehemently concluded. 

ICYMI, the director's bullying allegations came in an interview where he mentioned that Trump sought a cameo appearance along with the customary fee for filming in the hotel. 

In a behind-the-scenes revelation, Columbus shared that initially, the filmmakers anticipated paying Trump a standard fee for filming at the Plaza Hotel, which he owned at the time. However, the businessman had additional demands.

The 65-year-old revealed, "We paid the fee, but he also said, 'The only way you can use the Plaza is if I'm in the movie.' So we agreed to put him in the movie." 

Initially unsure about Trump's cameo, the "Adventures in Babysitting" director contemplated cutting the scene. However, positive audience reactions altered the course, prompting Columbus to instruct the editor, "Leave him in the movie. It's a moment for the audience." 

Despite this, he insisted that the politician "did bully his way into the movie."

In stark contrast to the cinematic drama surrounding Trump's cameo, his social media platform, Truth Social, faces financial challenges that may lead to its shutdown.

Launched in February 2022 as an alternative to mainstream social networks following Trump's ban from several platforms, Truth Social has struggled to turn the father-of-five's presence into revenue for Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG).

The first public disclosure of financial details revealed a $50 million loss for Truth Social in 2022, accompanied by meager net sales of $1.4 million. In another financial filing, the platform experienced a revenue of $2.3 million during the first half of 2023. However, the financial statement also disclosed a substantial loss of $23 million.

The precarious financial condition was emphasized, with TMTG's independent registered public accounting firm expressing "doubt as to its ability to continue as a going concern." 

The evaluation further revealed concerns about meeting liabilities and "raising additional funds through traditional financing sources in the absence of material progress toward completing its merger with Digital World."

The potential merger, initially valued at $875 million, is crucial for TMTG's survival. The company's future was at risk if the merger failed to materialize along with the anticipated funds. 

It was also noted that Trump's latest financial disclosure indicated a significant decrease in TMTG's valuation, with his controlling stake estimated between $5 million and $25 million.

According to the documents, "On March 1, 2023, TMTG eliminated several positions. This action followed a review of all departments, most significantly impacted TMTG's streaming video on demand (SVOD) and infrastructure teams." 

Despite Trump's return to other social networks, he continued to emphasize Truth Social as his primary platform.