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President Donald Trump’s plan to expand and reopen Alcatraz as a prison “to house America’s most ruthless and violent Offenders” caused the island to trend on X and other social media platforms on Sunday.
And not many people were on board with the idea.
Alcatraz is currently part of Golden Gate National Recreation Area and has about 1.2 million visitors per year. Those who tour the island in San Francisco Bay see facilities in various states of decay. The prison was crumbling even as it was still in operation, and the high cost of maintaining it was a key reason it was shuttered in 1963.
Given those realities, restoring Alcatraz and then expanding it, as Trump called for on his Truth Social platform, would likely cost a fortune ― and then another pile of cash would be needed to maintain it.
Reopening it as a prison would also mean the loss of the tourism revenue the island currently generates as well as a loss of habitat for its thriving bird population.
The president, however, said Alcatraz’s return to use as a prison would “serve as a symbol of Law, Order, and JUSTICE.”
His critics fired back that the idea would be an expensive boondoggle:
Who has been to Alcatraz tour? 🙋🏼♂️
It’s absolutely asinine after it’s been closed longer than I’ve been alive to get it up to speed the sheer amount of money and resources. Absolutely insane.
Truly. pic.twitter.com/GIsBglJI3B
Was Donald Trump watching a movie about Alcatraz when he came up with the idea of reopening it and putting tariffs on movies?
This guy is clearly unhinged.
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. https://t.co/ALKXZLWlzO
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) May 5, 2025100% tariffs on foreign films (maybe shutting off China market for US films?) Re-open Alcatraz (closed for 60+ years)? I really do not think it is a good idea to leave President Trump alone on Sunday nights.
— Jeff Greenfield (@greenfield64) May 5, 2025Wanting to reopen Alcatraz, check if the gold is still in Fort Knox, and release the JFK files are exactly the sort of actions that someone who hasn't read anything since high school would want to do. Surprised that he hasn't demanded that the Pony Express be reinstated.
— Luke Epplin (@LukeEpplin) May 5, 2025Trump is an incredibly surrealist, postmodern figure. His whole worldview seems to be informed by urban legends and mid-20th century movie references that he then tries to turn into actual policy. There are too many examples to count. His fixation on the Fort Knox gold is another… https://t.co/Bmxu0krXj8
— Bobby Miller (@realBobbyMil) May 5, 2025Rebuilding Alcatraz to imprison more Americans seems like a great use of tax dollars, doesn’t it? 🙄
If you’ve been on a tour there then you know this is a terrible idea.
It’s likely just red meat for the base that won’t happen, but it’s hard to tell these days. Pete Hegseth… pic.twitter.com/GKpHUn69ua
Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy ordered Alcatraz to close in 1962: It "was much more expensive to operate than other facilities; it housed a startlingly small number of prisoners; it was deemed vulnerable to future escape attempts." https://t.co/OE4y5PFXSn via @sfchronicle
— Carla ‘Bluechecked’ Marinucci (@cmarinucci) May 5, 2025I toured Alcatraz not too long ago. The place is a full on museum, on the top of a really steep hill. Rebuilt? Enlarged? Does this mean he’s scrapping the El Salvador gulag plans? What is this potato even talking about? pic.twitter.com/f8FLQGxdQG
— Sara McGee for Texas HD 132 (@SaraForTexLege) May 5, 2025Wait until they figure out how expensive it will be to remodel, modernize and operate Alcatraz. The plumbing alone would take years to upgrade and I’m not even sure if it’s possible.
It will never happen. pic.twitter.com/LGqQyRa4uf
Alcatraz Island contributes significantly to the economy, generating about $60 million in annual revenue for park partners. This revenue comes from the 1.6 million visitors who tour the island each year. This revenue helps fund park projects and supports local businesses.
It's…
Reopening and rebuilding Alcatraz as a prison would cost approximately $235–370 million upfront and $40–60 million annually to operate.
Where you at @DOGE? pic.twitter.com/Af9WzhYT2x
I had the honor of visiting Alcatraz last year. It was eye-opening.
One of the most haunting exhibits was a map of the world with black balls to help you visualize the prison populations of each country
Perhaps President Trump should visit. He might learn something https://t.co/vVnGxhcQ67 pic.twitter.com/QTQhSEp6ip
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