Photo: Alamy
President Donald Trump called for rebuilding and reopening the famous Alcatraz prison in California on Sunday, arguing that the location should be used for “violent and repeat Criminal Offenders.”
In his crackdown on violent crime, the president shared the news in a Truth Social post.
“REBUILD, AND OPEN ALCATRAZ! For too long, America has been plagued by vicious, violent, and repeat Criminal Offenders, the dregs of society, who will never contribute anything other than Misery and Suffering,” Trump wrote.
“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. That’s the way it’s supposed to be. No longer will we tolerate these Serial Offenders who spread filth, bloodshed, and mayhem on our streets,” he continued.
“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. We will no longer be held hostage to criminals, thugs, and Judges that are afraid to do their job and allow us to remove criminals, who came into our Country illegally. The reopening of ALCATRAZ will serve as a symbol of Law, Order, and JUSTICE. We will, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!” the president concluded.
Alcatraz is located on an island near San Francisco. It opened in 1934 and housed many of the nation’s worst criminals.
The prison was closed by President John F. Kennedy in 1963 and has since become a popular tourist attraction.
“Alcatraz closed as a federal penitentiary more than sixty years ago. It is now a very popular national park and major tourist attraction. The President’s proposal is not a serious one,” California Democratic Rep. Nancy Pelosi wrote on X.
CNN’s Kaitlan Collins noted that the prison “was closed in the 1960s because it was three times more expensive to operate than other prisons.”
A spokesperson from the Bureau of Prisons told the Associated Press that the agency “will comply with all Presidential Orders,” but did not address any additional details about Alcatraz.