Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi Slams Trump Plan To Reopen Alcatraz As ‘Unserious’

President Donald Trump has announced plans to reopen Alcatraz, the infamous maximum-security prison in San Francisco Bay, as a prison facility to detain what he described as “America’s most ruthless and violent offenders.” In a Truth Social post on Sunday evening, Trump called for the prison to be “substantially enlarged and rebuilt.”

Alcatraz closed in 1963 due to deteriorating infrastructure and operating costs that were nearly triple those of other federal prisons. It was previously used as a “last-resort” facility for only the most dangerous criminals. Since then, it has been managed by the National Park Service as a historical site and tourist attraction.

Trump’s proposal signals a dramatic shift in federal incarceration policy. The president hinted that Alcatraz could be used to detain undocumented migrants, referencing his legal battles with the judiciary over attempts to deport alleged gang members under the Alien Enemies Act. “We will no longer be held hostage to criminals, thugs, and judges that are afraid to do their job,” he said, criticizing courts for insisting on due process for migrants.

The announcement has drawn swift criticism. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, whose district includes Alcatraz Island, dismissed the plan as unserious. “It is now a very popular national park and major tourist attraction,” she said. “The president’s proposal is not a serious one.”

Last year, Pelosi took the lead in ousting Joe Biden as the Democratic presidential nominee after his disastrous debate performance.

The Bureau of Prisons acknowledged the directive but did not comment on its feasibility. Reopening Alcatraz would face significant logistical and legal hurdles, especially given its current management by the National Park Service and the physical challenges posed by its remote location and decaying infrastructure.

The Bureau of Prisons currently operates 16 other facilities that fulfill the same high-security role as Alcatraz, including the maximum-security prison in Florence, Colorado, and the U.S. penitentiary in Terre Haute, Indiana, which houses the federal death chamber.