U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that he is instructing the Federal Bureau of Prisons to rebuild and reopen the historic Alcatraz prison in San Francisco Bay, aiming to use the facility to detain what he described as “America’s most ruthless and violent offenders.”
“REBUILD, AND OPEN ALCATRAZ!” Trump wrote on Truth Social, adding that in the past, the U.S. “did not hesitate to lock up the most dangerous criminals and keep them far away from anyone they could harm.”
Originally closed in 1963, Alcatraz once housed infamous criminals like Al Capone. The island prison is now one of San Francisco’s most visited tourist attractions.
In a separate statement, Trump said he was directing multiple federal agencies—including the Department of Justice, the FBI, and the Department of Homeland Security—to collaborate on a “substantially enlarged and rebuilt” version of Alcatraz.
Speaking to reporters upon his return to Washington, D.C. from Florida, Trump described the plan as “just an idea” he had decided to pursue. “It’s a symbol of law and order,” he added.
Known for its remote island location, cold waters, and strong currents, Alcatraz was once considered the most secure prison in the country. Although several escape attempts were made, no successful escape has ever been confirmed; five inmates remain listed as “missing and presumed drowned.”
The Federal Bureau of Prisons notes that Alcatraz was shut down largely due to high operating costs, which were nearly triple those of other federal prisons at the time.
Former House Speaker and California Democrat Nancy Pelosi dismissed Trump’s proposal, writing on X (formerly Twitter): “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.”