Trump Says He Will Reopen Alcatraz Prison

Monday, May 05, 2025

President Donald Trump says he is directing his government to reopen and expand Alcatraz, the notorious former prison on a hard-to-reach California island that has been closed for more than 60 years.

Posted by gracieamazed at 06:31 PM | 50 COMMENTS | permalink

President Trump says he will direct federal agencies to "reopen a substantially enlarged and rebuilt Alcatraz," a facility that for decades was a federal prison and is now a national park in SF. Alcatraz closed as a penitentiary in 1963 because of expensive operating costs. nbcnews.to/42KQura

[image or embed]
-- NBC News (@nbcnews.com) May 5, 2025 at 10:59 AM

Comments

Trump's mental illness only accelerates.

#1 | Posted by Zed at 2025-05-04 08:47 PM

He can't do that. It's deemed uninhabitable. Trump is out of his ever loving mind. Full stop

#2 | Posted by LauraMohr at 2025-05-04 08:54 PM

He can't do that.

Sure he can. All it takes is a lot of money.

#3 | Posted by REDIAL at 2025-05-04 08:58 PM

Nothing says your country is doing great louder than opening more prisons.

#4 | Posted by snoofy at 2025-05-04 09:37 PM

People are saying that a new startup company, PrizonX, has been given a $100 Billion contract to get this moving.

#5 | Posted by REDIAL at 2025-05-04 09:44 PM

I guess Putin didn't want American undesirables populating his already full gulags.

Trumpf's idiotic idea will remind people of these three people below and will generate interest in watching movies about them:

upload.wikimedia.org

i.ytimg.com

#6 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2025-05-04 09:46 PM

It would cost tens of billions, if not more, to destroy and rebuild that prison.

All so convicted felons can enjoy some of the most beautiful scenery this nation has to offer.

And to deprive San Francisco of an attraction that helps bring $10 billion tourist dollars a year to the area.

More distractions from the insurrectionist in chief while he steals from our nation.

#7 | Posted by censored at 2025-05-04 10:43 PM

Trump is completely incompetent

#8 | Posted by qcp at 2025-05-04 10:48 PM

And to deprive San Francisco of an attraction that helps bring $10 billion tourist dollars a year

Good point. That's probably the actual goal. MAGA is supremely jealous of California in general, and San Francisco specifically.

#9 | Posted by REDIAL at 2025-05-04 10:50 PM

Trump is so crazy and demented its like weekend at Bernies in the white house.

#10 | Posted by Alexandrite at 2025-05-04 11:11 PM

How about a compromise solution?

Alcatraz gets re-built and President Trump becomes a resident as a convicted felon. Win-Win?

#11 | Posted by TrueBlue at 2025-05-04 11:40 PM

Why is it every "idea" Trump is a failed notion from the turn of the last century?

#12 | Posted by qcp at 2025-05-05 01:21 PM

Nothing says your country is doing great louder than opening more prisons.

#4 | Posted by snoofy at 2025-05-04 09:37 PM | Reply | Flag:

You kinda have to when you take on 10 million criminals in the last 4 years.

#13 | Posted by lfthndthrds at 2025-05-05 03:27 PM

#13 | Posted by lfthndthrds

Trump's fantasies about Alcatraz are akin to that med Bavarian king and his Wagnerian castles.

But arise from a vainglorious and disturbed mind.

#14 | Posted by Zed at 2025-05-05 03:57 PM

Trump's fantasies about Alcatraz are akin to that mad Bavarian king and his Wagnerian castles.

Both arise from a vainglorious and disturbed mind.

#15 | Posted by Zed at 2025-05-05 03:59 PM

Laughable BS from the King of BS.
It would cost billions and take years to open that prison again, only after being completely rebuilt.
Either Trump knows that and he is lying as usual, or he doesn't know that, and he is confirming his mental illness.

#16 | Posted by e1g1 at 2025-05-05 07:25 PM

You kinda have to when you take on 10 million criminals in the last 4 years.
#13 | Posted by lfthndthrds at 2025-05-05 03:27 PM | Reply | Flag

Trump let the Jan 6 traitors out of prison (and many other obvious political favors), but you are worried about illegals from Central and South America.

That "10 million criminals" is a complete lie and you know it. That figure is an estimate of ALL encounters:
1. people who tried to get in and were caught and sent back;
2. people who applied for asylum and were admitted temporarily while their case works through the system;
3. people who got in illegally and are still here

#17 | Posted by e1g1 at 2025-05-05 07:28 PM

If I can't have Canada and if I can't have Greenland and if I can't have the Panama Canal at least let me have Alcatraz.
~Trump with pouty face.

#18 | Posted by eightfifteenpm at 2025-05-05 09:02 PM

Sure let's open Alcatraz again and stick all those billionaire freeloading pigs in it and have weekly "Guillotine Brunch" one scumbag at a time.

#19 | Posted by Wildman62 at 2025-05-05 10:01 PM

Trumpf got the idea to re-open the notorious prison after PBS in Miami aired the famous 1979 Clint Eastwood film Escape from Alcatraz-- a channel he wants to defund. Link: www.msn.com

#20 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2025-05-06 04:47 AM

Well, if he opens Alcatraz and sets it up to be a prison camp for opponents like Stephen Colbert and Maddow...when they get around to me I hope I get sent there. The view, of the bay, would be great, and goodness knows the conversations would be intelligent and fun. In that world, to have a brain and an opinion would be illegal

#21 | Posted by Hughmass at 2025-05-06 07:16 AM

The president, while taking questions following a press conference confirming the NFL 2027 draft will take place in Washington, D.C., was asked: "How did you decide to reopen Alcatraz? Can you walk us through that decision? How will you use it? How did you come up with the idea?"

Trump rambled in response:

"It represents something very strong, very powerful in terms of law and order. Our country needs law and order. Alcatraz is I would say the ultimate, right? Alcatraz, Sing, Sing. And Alcatraz, the movies. But it's right now a museum, believe it or not. A lot of people go there. It housed the most violent criminals in the world and nobody ever escaped. One person almost got there but they, as you know, the story, they found his clothing rather badly ripped up and it was a lot of shark bites, a lot of, lot of problems. Nobody's ever escaped from Alcatraz and just represented something strong having to do with law and order. We need law and order in this country. And so we're going to look at it. Some of the people up here are going to be working very hard on that and we had a little conversation. I think it's going to be very interesting. We'll see if we can bring it back, in large form, add a lot. But I think it represents something right now. It's a big hulk that's sitting there rusting and rotting. You look at it, it's sort of an, you saw that picture that was put out. It's sort of amazing but it sort of represents something that's both horrible and beautiful and strong and miserable, weak. It's got a lot of, it's got a lot of qualities that are interesting and I think they make a point."

Some critics pointed to the airing on Saturday of the 1979 Clint Eastwood film "Escape to Alcatraz" on WLRN in South Florida, where Trump was staying at his Mar-a-Lago resort, as possibly the real explanation for his order to get the long-shuttered penitentiary back up and running, despite its crumbling infrastructure.

www.huffpost.com

#22 | Posted by qcp at 2025-05-06 08:55 AM

Thank god he didn't watch godzilla or he'd be dropping atomic bombs everywhere trying to create a massive fire breathing lizard.

#23 | Posted by truthhurts at 2025-05-06 09:07 AM

Pretty sure it's not legal to turn a national park into a prison.

Not sure why the MSM isn't pointing that out. They report the dotard's stupid utterances, but don't mention that part.

#24 | Posted by DarkVader at 2025-05-06 09:18 AM

"It represents something very strong, very powerful in terms of law and order."

This is called Virtue Signaling.
Every Republican knows it.
They like it.

#25 | Posted by snoofy at 2025-05-06 09:25 AM

"Some critics pointed to the airing on Saturday of the 1979 Clint Eastwood film "Escape to Alcatraz" on WLRN in South Florida, where Trump was staying at his Mar-a-Lago resort, as possibly the real explanation"

^
This is almost certainly true.

Monkey See, Monkey Do.

#26 | Posted by snoofy at 2025-05-06 09:26 AM

You kinda have to when you take on 10 million criminals in the last 4 years.
#13 | Posted by lfthndthrds

Lies. And you are the Liar who tells them. Policies based in lies are worthless and a waste of money and time. Probably just another attempt or opportunity at distraction and disinformation by the moron in chief.

And what a wierd fruitcake YOU turned out to be. Eh?

Mommy and Daddy must be so proud! Or do they even speak to you anymore?

#27 | Posted by donnerboy at 2025-05-06 10:14 AM

Are the current Super Max prisons somehow inadequate?

#28 | Posted by Whatsleft at 2025-05-06 11:00 AM

You kinda have to when you take on 10 million criminals in the last 4 years.

#13 | Posted by lfthndthrds

Only in the mind of a bigoted Trumper do people of color seeking refuge, or a better life, deserve to go to maximum security prison. I bet you can't wait until they start using the gas chambers.

#29 | Posted by Whatsleft at 2025-05-06 11:04 AM

This is stupid, it should be an Indian casino!

#30 | Posted by oneironaut at 2025-05-06 11:28 AM

Are the current Super Max prisons somehow inadequate?
#28 | POSTED BY WHATSLEFT

You can't be this dense can you? Do you even read what he wrote?

Its not about housing more prisoners, think about where it is, what it means etc etc, thats his purpose. Not that I agree with it, but I understand it.

#31 | Posted by oneironaut at 2025-05-06 11:30 AM

Trump is so crazy and demented its like weekend at Bernies in the white house.
#10 | POSTED BY ALEXANDRITE

And yet you, and every other Lumper spends time talking about it for days on end.

He's winning by getting you to ignore the real problems.

#32 | Posted by oneironaut at 2025-05-06 11:31 AM

Another stupid idea by a very stupid stupid man that will never happen.

What a frickin loon.

Enjoying that FAFO yet America ??

#33 | Posted by donnerboy at 2025-05-06 12:53 PM

"Trump Says He Will Reopen Alcatraz Prison"

Trump belongs there. He can have a wing like the Goodfellas and get his preferred junk food delivered by the Uber Eats' Navy.

#34 | Posted by AMERICANUNITY at 2025-05-06 06:02 PM

#34: Hi American Unity: I get hungry listening to the steak sizzle or watching Paulie slice the garlic with a razor blade. "Don't put too many onions in the sauce!": youtu.be

#35 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2025-05-06 06:08 PM

#35 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS

I just watched it again a couple of weeks ago. What a great movie!

#36 | Posted by AMERICANUNITY at 2025-05-06 06:14 PM

#35 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS

We had a copy of Henry Hill's "The Wise Guy Cookbook: My Favorite Recipes From My Life as a Goodfella to Cooking on the Run." Never used it, but it was fun to see in the kitchen every time I walked in! A couple of years ago I gave it to a visiting childhood friend who ogled it. His Sicilian grandfather taught me how to play bocci ball as a kid ... and where I learned a couple of Italian cuss words too LOL :-)

#37 | Posted by AMERICANUNITY at 2025-05-06 06:37 PM

#37: Hi American Unity: The film elides that Henry Hill was a US Army Paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division where he used his street skills to make money selling supplies from the mess hall before returning to Brooklyn. When Henry Hill helped Nichole Pileggi write the book Wiseguy, he didn't know exactly who Tommy's assassins were. So, in the film Martin Scorcese shows Paulie's brother and an old-timer driving Tommy to his demise. Henry only learned after the book and movie came out that John Gotti was the triggerman that whacked Tommy.

I have more stories about Goodfellas from my Brooklyn experience, but my ever-loving wife is summoning me. Here's the original book (worth a read):

i.pinimg.com

#38 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2025-05-06 06:56 PM

#38 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS

Thanks for the rec! I'm a voracious reader.

Years ago, my aunt called from her place in Long Island City telling me my uncle had asked my teenage cousin where he got the watch and wad of money he saw him with. Cousin Russel told him he'd gotten a job. "Where?," my uncle asked.

Turned out he was running bags of money around for a captain out of the the Bergin Hunt and Fish Club (Gotti). My aunt said my uncle was still kicking Russel's ass a couple weeks later LOL!

PS - Several of the houses on my suburban paper route were owned and occupied by made guys and their families. Never realized it until seeing a USA Today headline about the Justice Dept indicting most of them. "Ah, so THAT's why Mr XXXXX was home during the day so much! *face-palm." LOL

#39 | Posted by AMERICANUNITY at 2025-05-06 07:17 PM

I have more stories about Goodfellas from my Brooklyn experience, but my ever-loving wife is summoning me. Here's the original book (worth a read):

i.pinimg.com

#38 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS

PS - I'd love to hear those stories sometime!

I'll tell you how I (probably) got an FBI file in my early 20's as a mob entertainer LOL

#40 | Posted by AMERICANUNITY at 2025-05-06 07:24 PM

#40: You may execute a FOIA request from the FBI. I received a redacted version of my files years ago: www.fbi.gov

#41 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2025-05-06 07:32 PM

scuttlebutt is that senator from maryland has already

paid for kilmar to get swimming lessons in el salvador.

#42 | Posted by shrimptacodan at 2025-05-06 10:16 PM

I love the idea.

guests on show I watched suggested that with all the wild currents and undercurrents....the water is 'sharky"...( chum it first ) ....put
a diving board on one side....if you make it to shore...you're free.

what could be more fair than that ?

#43 | Posted by shrimptacodan at 2025-05-06 10:37 PM

but I understand it.
#31 | POSTED BY ONEIRONAUT

You do? I don't speak "incoherent babble".

Can you summarize it and Trumpsplain it to the normals please?

#44 | Posted by donnerboy at 2025-05-07 12:03 PM

How about a compromise solution?
Alcatraz gets re-built and President Trump becomes a resident as a convicted felon. Win-Win?

#11 | Posted by TrueBlue

Sure let's open Alcatraz again and stick all those billionaire freeloading pigs in it and have weekly "Guillotine Brunch" one scumbag at a time.

#19 | Posted by Wildman62

I think these two are onto the next big reality TV hit. Can you imagine the advertising revenue?

#45 | Posted by El_Buscador at 2025-05-07 01:47 PM

"I think these two are onto the next big reality TV hit. Can you imagine the advertising revenue?"

It's just like Jesus said:
Let He Who Has Twenty Bucks Cast The First Stone.

#46 | Posted by snoofy at 2025-05-07 01:48 PM

If they want to fix up one of those old WW 1 Conscientious Objector cells in the "down below" for him, fine. No cable tv, though.

#47 | Posted by morris at 2025-05-07 04:52 PM

Did Pres Trump see the movie, "Escape from Alcatraz," starring Clint Eastwood, just before he posted his comment? I heard it was shown on a Palm Beach area TV station around then ...

Found this ...

Trump's Alcatraz Announcement Comes The Morning After Clint Eastwood Prison Classic Was On Local TV
deadline.com

... I guess I was supposed to be a moviemaker," said Donald Trump today when asked why he decided to reopen the infamous prison on Alcatraz Island.

Turns out there might be a more prosaic answer: Clint Eastwood's 1979 classic Escape From Alcatraz was shown on a South Florida PBS station the night before. (Trump was at Mar-a-Lago for most of the weekend.) ...

#48 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-05-07 06:25 PM

and there's this ...

Trump floats reopening Alcatraz " here's how much revenue the notorious prison generates
www.foxbusiness.com

... The prison at Alcatraz closed in 1963 because it was no longer cost-effective compared to other prisons. Ahead of its closure, the Bureau of Prisons said Alcatraz's operating costs were over three times that of any other federal prison in 1959 " $10.10 daily per capita cost compared with $3 in Atlanta. ...

The National Park Service said last year that Alcatraz Island hosts about 1.6 million visitors annually and generates about $60 million in annual revenue. Much of that funding is used to help finance park projects. ...

#49 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-05-07 06:27 PM

Turns out there might be a more prosaic answer: Clint Eastwood's 1979 classic Escape From Alcatraz was shown on a South Florida PBS station the night before. (Trump was at Mar-a-Lago for most of the weekend.) ...

#48 | Posted by LampLighter

Many of his first term aides said Trump went with the last thing someone whispered in his ear (or saw on television, apparently).

#50 | Posted by AMERICANUNITY at 2025-05-07 06:49 PM

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