In a surprising and controversial announcement, President Donald Trump has said he is ordering the reopening of Alcatraz, the famous former prison located on an island in San Francisco Bay.
The prison, which was closed in 1963, is now a major tourist destination and national park—but Trump says it should return to its original purpose: housing America’s most violent and dangerous criminals.
“Rebuild and Open Alcatraz,” Says Trump
In a post shared on Truth Social on Sunday evening, President Trump wrote:
“REBUILD, AND OPEN ALCATRAZ! For too long, America has been plagued by vicious, violent, and repeat Criminal Offenders… When we were a more serious Nation, we locked them away—and that’s the way it’s supposed to be.”
He blamed what he called the “dregs of society” for spreading violence and fear in American cities and said it’s time to take a tougher approach.
Trump also said he has instructed the Bureau of Prisons, Department of Justice, FBI, and Homeland Security to begin plans to rebuild and expand Alcatraz, turning it into a maximum-security federal prison for the “worst of the worst.”
A Symbol of “Law, Order, and Justice”
According to Trump, the reopening of Alcatraz will send a message that the U.S. is serious again about law and order.
“We will no longer be held hostage to criminals, thugs, and judges who are afraid to do their jobs,” he wrote.
Trump’s comments come after several federal judges recently ruled against parts of his immigration and deportation policies, including a case involving the use of the 1798 Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelan immigrants accused of gang activity.
Pelosi Rejects Plan, Calls It “Not Serious”
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who represents San Francisco, quickly rejected Trump’s Alcatraz proposal. She posted on X (formerly Twitter):
“Alcatraz closed more than sixty years ago. It is now a very popular national park and tourist attraction. The President’s proposal is not a serious one.”
Many critics agree that reopening the prison would be a huge logistical challenge and could hurt local tourism and historical preservation efforts.
Alcatraz and the Global Prison Model
Trump’s tough prison stance mirrors his growing admiration for foreign prison systems, especially those that use strict, military-style methods. Last month, the Trump administration coordinated deportations to CECOT, a high-security prison in El Salvador, which has been widely criticized for human rights abuses.
CECOT already holds 40,000 inmates, and El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele has announced expansion plans. During a recent conversation, Trump reportedly told Bukele:
“You gotta build about five more places … It’s not big enough.”
He also hinted that American citizens considered dangerous could be sent to similarly run facilities in the future.