Trump Announces Alcatraz Prison Reopening Plans

On Sunday, former President Donald Trump announced his intention to instruct the Federal Bureau of Prisons to reconstruct and reopen the notorious Alcatraz prison located in San Francisco Bay to “house the nation’s most dangerous and violent offenders.”

“REBUILD AND OPEN ALCATRAZ!” he declared in a post on Truth Social. “In earlier times, we were a more serious nation, and we didn’t hesitate to incarcerate the most dangerous criminals, keeping them far from anyone they could harm.”

Alcatraz, which once housed infamous criminals such as Al Capone, was shut down in 1963. It has since become one of San Francisco’s top tourist attractions.

“Today, I am directing the Bureau of Prisons to collaborate with the Department of Justice, FBI, and Homeland Security to reopen a significantly larger and renovated ALCATRAZ,” Trump stated.

Speaking to reporters upon his return to the White House from Florida, Trump referred to the idea of reopening the prison as something he had simply “decided to pursue.” He emphasized, “It’s a symbol of law and order.”

Once touted as America’s most secure prison due to its island location, cold waters, and strong currents, Alcatraz had never recorded a successful escape, although five inmates were noted as missing and presumed drowned.

According to the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), the closure of Alcatraz was primarily due to its high operating costs, which were nearly three times greater than any other federal prison due to its location.

Nancy Pelosi, the former House Speaker and a Democratic representative from California, dismissed Trump’s plan. “Alcatraz was shut down over sixty years ago. It is currently a beloved national park and a major tourist attraction. The President’s proposal isn’t serious,” she stated in a post on X.