Trump Proposes Reopening Alcatraz To House America’s Most Dangerous Criminals

In a dramatic move that’s drawing both applause and outrage, former President Donald Trump has announced plans to reopen and massively expand Alcatraz, the infamous island prison that once held America’s most dangerous criminals. Closed in 1963 due to its crumbling infrastructure and sky-high operating costs, Alcatraz could once again become a fortress for the nation’s most violent offenders if Trump gets his way.

Posting Sunday evening on his Truth Social platform, Trump called today’s criminal justice system “soft” and blamed “radicalized judges” for tying the hands of law enforcement. “For too long,” Trump wrote, “America has been plagued by vicious, violent, and repeat Criminal Offenders… When we were a more serious Nation… we did not hesitate to lock up the most dangerous criminals.”

He went on to say, “That is why, today, I am directing the Bureau of Prisons, together with the Department of Justice, FBI, and Homeland Security, to reopen a substantially enlarged and rebuilt ALCATRAZ, to house America’s most ruthless and violent Offenders.”

The idea of transforming Alcatraz from a tourist destination back into a high-security prison has stunned many. The prison, located on a remote island in the San Francisco Bay, was originally shut down because of deteriorating conditions and the high costs of transporting supplies by boat. Today, it stands as a major national park and one of California’s top tourist attractions, managed by the National Park Service.

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, whose district includes the island, dismissed the plan as “not a serious one,” pointing to Alcatraz’s current status as a historic landmark and tourist hotspot.

But Trump seems undeterred. He’s reportedly frustrated by legal blocks on deportation efforts and said Alcatraz represents “law and order” in a way few places do. “It’s got quite a history,” he added a reference to the prison’s dark past housing legends like Al Capone and George “Machine Gun” Kelly. Known for being nearly escape-proof, Alcatraz was immortalized in films like The Rock and Escape from Alcatraz.

Reopening the prison, however, would come with serious challenges. The Bureau of Prisons has struggled with staffing shortages, rising costs, and aging infrastructure. In fact, several federal prisons have closed recently for these very reasons, even as the agency begins constructing a new facility in Kentucky.

The directive is part of Trump’s broader push to overhaul the U.S. correctional system. He has floated controversial plans to send prisoners to maximum-security facilities in El Salvador and reopen Guantanamo Bay to detain up to 30,000 “criminal aliens.”

A spokesperson for the Bureau of Prisons said it would comply with all presidential orders, but declined to comment on the feasibility of rebuilding Alcatraz, which would likely cost billions and require congressional approval, not to mention a massive legal battle with the National Park Service.

While critics call the move political theater, supporters say it signals a tough-on-crime approach they’ve long wanted. One thing is certain: Trump’s plan to “bring back The Rock” has reignited debate about crime, punishment, and America’s prison system.