In a surprise move, former President Donald Trump announced plans to reopen and greatly expand the Alcatraz prison. Located on an island in San Francisco Bay, Alcatraz has been closed since 1963 and now serves as a popular national park. Trump’s proposal quickly drew strong criticism from California leaders, civil rights groups, and legal experts.
“A More Serious Nation”
Trump made the announcement on his social media platform, Truth Social. He said the goal was to turn Alcatraz into a prison for the country’s most violent and repeat criminals. Calling it a return to “a more serious Nation,” Trump said he wants to “remove those who will never contribute anything other than Misery and Suffering.”
According to Trump, he has already spoken with key agencies, including the Bureau of Prisons, the FBI, the Department of Justice, and Homeland Security. He instructed them to begin planning the project, which he described as “a substantially enlarged and rebuilt ALCATRAZ.”
He claimed this would help reduce crime by taking dangerous people off the streets for good.
California Pushes Back
California leaders quickly rejected the idea. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the plan was “absurd” and not something to take seriously. Senator Scott Wiener called it “a domestic gulag” and questioned why anyone would want such a prison in the middle of a major tourist area like San Francisco Bay.
A spokesperson for Governor Gavin Newsom also dismissed the idea. “Looks like it’s Distraction Day again in Washington, DC,” they said.
Civil rights attorney Scott Hechinger also criticized the plan. He said it was a “dangerous joke” and a distraction from Trump’s recent budget cuts to anti-violence programs. “This won’t reduce crime,” Hechinger added. “It’s just for show.”
Many critics said the plan is more about grabbing headlines than fixing real problems in the criminal justice system.
Alcatraz’s Troubled History
Alcatraz is known around the world for its tough past. It served as a federal prison for 29 years, from 1934 to 1963. Famous criminals like Al Capone and George “Machine Gun” Kelly were held there. The prison was shut down due to high costs, poor living conditions, and the challenge of getting supplies to the island. Water, for example, had to be brought in by barge every week.
During its time as a prison, Alcatraz saw 14 escape attempts by 36 inmates. The FBI says none of those men made it off the island alive, though some cases remain unsolved.
Before it became a federal prison, the island held Native American prisoners. And after it closed, in 1969, Native activists occupied the island for 18 months to protest the U.S. government’s treatment of Native peoples. Dr. LaNada War Jack, who took part in the protest, said it was “a powerful fight for survival” and a call for justice.
Today, Alcatraz is managed by the National Park Service. It is a protected historic site and attracts over a million tourists each year.
Is It Even Possible?
After facing backlash, Trump later softened his stance. He called the Alcatraz plan “just an idea” and did not say if he would officially try to move forward with it. The Bureau of Prisons said reopening Alcatraz would be very hard due to the same issues that led to its closure in the first place.
Experts also doubt whether it is legal. Alcatraz is a federal park and a historic landmark. Changing that would require major approvals, including from Congress and possibly the state of California.
Even if the legal issues were solved, the costs would be huge. Modern prisons are already expensive to build and operate. Running one on an island would cost even more.
Still, some Republicans showed support. Congressman Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma said, “I don’t believe in keeping prisoners comfortable.” He praised the idea of isolating violent criminals far from the general public.
Trump’s proposal comes during a broader push from him to take a harder line on crime. He has spoken about sending gang members and other criminals—possibly even U.S. citizens—to prisons in other countries. That idea has also drawn legal and ethical questions.
Political Distraction or Policy Shift?
Critics say Trump is using bold, media-grabbing ideas to appeal to his political base. They say the Alcatraz plan, like others before it, is meant to look tough on crime without offering real solutions.
Scott Hechinger said, “We should be investing in schools, jobs, and mental health care. That’s how you reduce crime—not by reopening an island prison from the 1960s.”
California officials agree. Most say they will not support any effort to reopen Alcatraz. “This is political theater, plain and simple,” said one advisor to Governor Newsom.
Still, the idea has sparked a national conversation about crime, punishment, and what kind of justice system America wants.
For now, Alcatraz remains a tourist site with a dark past. Whether it becomes a prison again is uncertain, but one thing is clear: the plan has reignited debate about how the U.S. handles its most serious criminals.