The press simply cannot help themselves. Is it not deeply revealing how they, in one breath, declare Donald Trump a danger and his words a threat to our democracy and all that is holy, then they exhale to go on a descriptive diatribe involving his direct quotes? The funniest example of this was when Nicolle Wallace on “Deadline: White House” solemnly looked into her cameras and declared how she tries her hardest never to amplify Trump’s dangerous rhetoric — then immediately launched into a lengthy segment about his dangerous rhetoric, with direct quotations blasted in onscreen graphics.

You look across the media spectrum, and they cannot help themselves, as if they need a fix after going a set amount of hours without any negative Trump coverage. A prime example of this reality comes from the BBC, which became desperate enough to report on the latest Trump “controversy” — it involves (we are serious now) his appearance in the holiday film “Home Alone 2."

This allegedly serious and esteemed news source is trying to gin up some level of controversy regarding Trump’s five-second screen appearance with Macauley Culkin, playing Kevin McCallister, as he asks a passing stranger (Trump) where the lobby can be found. The scene lends nothing to the plot, and yet, over the years, this fleeting moment has taken on a resonance. 

Before Trump sold his Plaza Hotel, the Christmas movie, Home Alone 2, had an epic scene there where Trump made a grand cameo appearance. pic.twitter.com/lkqz5HB8Xw

— Shannon Ford (@shannonfordUSA) December 26, 2023

The BBC, seeing a reaction from Trump on his platform Truth Social, pounces on a story! This all springs from an interview director Christopher Columbus conducted with Business Insider three years ago. This sit-down was timed with the original film celebrating its 30th anniversary since being released, and in the course of their talk, the Trump cameo in the sequel was brought up. 

“We approached The Plaza Hotel, which Trump owned at the time, because we wanted to shoot in the lobby. Trump said OK. 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.

Apparently, there was some social media attention brought up this year regarding this interpretation of events, and it resulted in Trump taking to his own social media platform to give his version. His approach to the story seems rather straightforward (with the man’s pathological need to embellish in grandiose fashion), but according to the BBC, Trump “angrily denied claims” he forced his way into the production.

"I was very busy, and didn't want to do it. They were very nice, but above all, persistent. I agreed, and the rest is history! 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...If they felt bullied, or didn't want me, why did they put me in, and keep me there, for over 30 years? Because I was, and still am, great for the movie, that's why!"

On this point of the “controversy,” he appears to be correct. Columbus notes that back in the day — well ahead of Trump’s political career — his appearance made an impression. Test audiences had a favorable reaction to the scene, according to the director:

When we screened it for the first time the oddest thing happened: People cheered when Trump showed up on-screen. So I said to my editor, "Leave him in the movie. It's a moment for the audience." But he did bully his way into the movie. 

Thank you, BBC, for delivering to us a completely trivial detail that has been floating around for a few years and amounts to absolutely nothing controversial. Or important. Or even barely trivial. Not a single life has been altered or edified as a result, but you got your Trump hit for the week. 

Hope the clicks were worth further tarnishing your once-respected brand.