In a move drawing both political fire and public fascination, President Donald Trump announced via social media on Sunday that he is instructing federal authorities to rebuild and reopen Alcatraz, the notorious former island prison off the coast of San Francisco, to detain what he called “America’s most ruthless and violent offenders.”

“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,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “We will no longer be held hostage to criminals, thugs, and judges that are afraid to do their job… The reopening of Alcatraz will serve as a symbol of Law, Order, and JUSTICE.”

The post immediately ignited controversy, with critics labeling the proposal as political theater and legal experts questioning its feasibility.

Later Sunday, while returning to the White House, Trump tempered the declaration, describing it as “just an idea” born out of frustration with what he called “radicalized judges” who insist on due process for undocumented migrants. “They want a trial for every person here illegally,” Trump said. “That means millions of trials.”

Despite calling Alcatraz a “sad symbol,” Trump argued it carries “quite a history” and could be repurposed as a powerful emblem of law enforcement resolve.

Alcatraz, which operated as a maximum-security federal penitentiary from 1934 until its closure in 1963, is now a prominent tourist destination under the management of the National Park Service. The site attracts more than 1.2 million visitors annually and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1986.

According to federal records, Alcatraz was shut down largely due to cost. Its upkeep was nearly three times more expensive than that of other federal prisons, with an estimated $3 to $5 million required just for basic restoration and maintenance at the time.

The President’s plan would likely face steep bureaucratic and legal hurdles, including potential revocation of its historic designation. Such status can only be withdrawn under rare conditions, such as destruction of its defining features or a formal request from the Department of the Interior.

Democratic Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, whose San Francisco district includes Alcatraz Island, was quick to dismiss the proposal.

“Alcatraz closed more than sixty years ago. It is now a very popular national park and a major tourist attraction,” Pelosi wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “The President’s proposal is not a serious one.”

Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr., had floated a similar idea in 2025 shortly after his father began his second term in office. Responding to his father’s executive order that aimed to detain migrants at Guantanamo Bay, he wrote, “Now this is a great idea. Maybe we should also reopen Alcatraz?!?!”

As of publication, no comment has been issued by the National Park Service, the Bureau of Prisons, or the Department of the Interior regarding the president’s directive or its practical implications.



By WafricNews Desk.