“Rebuild and Open Alcatraz”: Trump’s Plan to Lock Away the Worst
United States: President Donald Trump announced a bold new proposal Sunday to reconstruct and reopen Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary, aiming to house what he called “America’s most ruthless and violent offenders.” The former president shared his directive on Truth Social, declaring, “REBUILD, AND OPEN ALCATRAZ!”
“When we were a more serious Nation, in times past, we did not hesitate to lock up the most dangerous criminals and keep them far away from anyone they could harm,” Trump posted, as reported by Reuters.
Plan Calls for Federal Oversight and Major Expansion
According to Trump, the initiative would involve collaboration between the Federal Bureau of Prisons, the Department of Justice, the FBI, and Homeland Security. The goal: a substantially expanded and modernized version of Alcatraz to serve as a maximum-security site once again.
He reaffirmed the symbolism behind the location, telling reporters, “It’s a symbol of law and order,” after returning to the White House from Florida.
NEW: Trump is ordering the reopening of the notorious Alcatraz prison.
— Kyle Becker (@kylenabecker) May 5, 2025
Trump intends to restore the prison in order to detain violent offenders and criminal aliens.
Do you agree with the president reopening the prison? pic.twitter.com/jqwhRXT1d6
Historic Landmark or High-Security Lockdown?
The former prison complex of Alcatraz exists in San Francisco Bay although the federal prison shut down operations in 1963. The United States prison facility earned its reputation as the most secure yet it became legendary for its famous inmate list which included Al Capone. Visitors from multiple countries now flock to this destination which both serves tourists and functions as an element of the National Park Service.
High operating costs from being located on an island were the main factor the Bureau of Prisons used to explain its decision to close the prison even though the other institutions had costs three times lower, as reported by Reuters.
Democratic Leaders Push Back
Not everyone is on board. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi criticized the proposal as unserious and out of touch. “Alcatraz closed as a federal penitentiary more than sixty years ago. It is now a very popular national park and a major tourist attraction,” Pelosi posted on X.
As the idea stirs political and public debate, questions loom about whether the historic site should remain a preserved symbol of America’s past or be reborn as a statement of hardline criminal justice.
