Trump Proposes Reopening Alcatraz to House Violent Criminals

Alcatraz, the infamous prison that once held America’s most notorious criminals, has been closed for over 60 years — but Donald Trump says it’s time to bring “The Rock” back.

In a Truth Social post, the former president outlined his vision to not only reopen the iconic prison island but expand it, turning it into a high-security facility for the nation’s most dangerous offenders.

A New Purpose for an Old Prison

Today, Alcatraz is better known for guided tours and scenic views than jail cells and lockdowns. Located off the coast of San Francisco, the former maximum-security prison draws roughly 1.5 million tourists a year who come to explore the cells, hear stories of infamous inmates, and relive the dramatic 1962 escape when three men disappeared and were never found.

That escape, combined with aging infrastructure and steep maintenance costs, led the federal government to shut Alcatraz down in 1963. Since then, it’s operated as a national park and tourist destination.

But Trump appears eager to turn back the clock.

Trump’s Statement

In a Sunday evening post, Trump wrote:

“For too long, 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 and keep them far away from anyone they could harm. That’s the way it’s supposed to be.”

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.”

Part of a Bigger Crackdown

Trump says this is just one piece of a broader plan to overhaul the way the U.S. handles violent criminals and immigration detention. Over the weekend, he also expressed frustration with what he called “radicalized judges” who, in his view, are delaying deportations by insisting on due process.

“Alcatraz has long been a symbol of law and order,” Trump added. “You know, it’s got quite a history.”

Major Hurdles Ahead

Reopening Alcatraz, however, is no simple task. According to the Associated Press, restoring and operating the prison would be costly, and the facility has long been under the control of the National Park Service. Recent trends have leaned toward closing federal prisons with high operating costs, not reopening them.

Still, a Bureau of Prisons spokesperson said the agency “will comply with all Presidential Orders” but declined to answer whether reopening Alcatraz is even feasible from a legal or logistical standpoint.

Pushback from Pelosi

Not everyone is on board. Representative Nancy Pelosi, whose district includes Alcatraz, sharply criticized Trump’s proposal.

“It is now a very popular national park and major tourist attraction. The President’s proposal is not a serious one,” she posted on X.

A Pattern of Hardline Proposals

Trump’s Alcatraz plan follows several recent controversial moves aimed at cracking down on crime and immigration. He has floated sending U.S. prisoners to a high-security prison in El Salvador without due process and ordered the expansion of Guantanamo Bay to hold up to 30,000 non-citizen criminals.

While it’s unclear whether Alcatraz will ever again serve as a prison, one thing is certain: Trump is doubling down on his law-and-order message heading into campaign season.

Is reopening Alcatraz a tough-on-crime solution or an outdated political stunt? That debate is just getting started.