In a shocking political and public pushback to plans, President Donald Trump has confirmed plans to reopen and swell Alcatraz, an icon in the making of America’s worst criminals. The prison on a stony island in San Francisco Bay closed since 1963 and a major tourist attraction could soon be housing inmates—again—if Trump’s idea to give the bulldozed land to inmates as opposed to using it for parks or residential development goes ahead.
On his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump made clear his plans, saying that those he wants locked up are the ‘vicious, violent, and repeat criminal offenders, the dregs of society.’ Reopening, he framed, as a symbol of law and order restored, a tougher line on crime was needed in what he called a ‘less serious Nation’.
The plan proposed consists of coordination between several key federal agencies including the Bureau of Prisons, the Department of Justice, the FBI, and Homeland Security. ‘We are going to build what can be best considered the new Alcatraz,’ Trump said, which would ‘substantially enlarge and rebuild’ America’s most dangerous criminals.
A Fortress of the Past
In 1934 Alcatraz was created by the federal penitentiary as an isolated prison for the ‘worst of the worst.’ Escape from its isolated location was almost impossible, but after the daring 1962 escape of Frank Morris and the Anglin brothers of which his fate remains unknown, it became legendary. In 1963, high costs and logistical difficulties meant it was closed.
Alcatraz wasn’t any old penitentiary, it was instead home to some of the most notorious inmates in American history, such as mobster Al Capone and Gangster George “Machine Gun” Kelly. The harsh conditions, small cells, no interaction and constant surveillance turned the prison into a paradox where there were hot showers and some of the best meals served in the federal prison system.
Political Reactions and Criticism
Trump’s idea has been dismissed by critics as a political stunt. The move was labeled “not a serious one” by former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi whose district includes Alcatraz, and “deeply unhinged” an “attack on the rule of law” by California state senator Scott Wiener who called the idea “not a serious one.” So too did legal experts question the practicality and necessity of reopening such a facility.
The federal prison population has dropped by about 25 percent from its peak and there are a lot of empty beds,” said Gabriel Jack Chin, a professor at the University of California’s Davis School of Law. He stressed the huge expense of returning Alcatraz to functionality, especially since Alcatraz, which was isolated, was three times more expensive to operate than other federal facilities.
Cultural Icon and Tourist Destination
Alcatraz attracts some 1.4 million visitors per year as part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. The storied past is explored by tourists, from the military origins and infamous inmates to the dramatic occupation Native Americans undertook after closure. Yet the prison has been cemented further in pop culture by films such as The Rock and Birdman of Alcatraz.
Indeed, the island’s history as a historical landmark and tourism hub has made it one of the Bay Area’s iconic attractions, leaving further questions about whether it can be returned to its penal function’s potential—or its desirability altogether.
Trump’s push to revive Alcatraz is as symbolic as it is logistical, reflecting his broader tough-on-crime narrative. But whether it becomes a reality remains uncertain. With steep financial, logistical, and political hurdles, the reopening of Alcatraz may remain a polarizing vision rather than a concrete policy. As the debate unfolds, Americans are once again reminded of how history, politics, and public perception collide on “The Rock.”
