Nancy Pelosi doesn’t hold back about Trump’s plan for Alcatraz: “The President’s proposal is not a serious one”
Trump and Pelosi go head-to-head over the prospect of re-converting Alcatraz Island back into a prison, after more that six decades as a major tourist attraction
Clearly, Alphonse Capone, the 20th-century notorious mobster, is on the mind of President Donald Trump.
Not only has the president referenced the mafia leader in several interviews in recent weeks, but the White House also announced its intention to see Alcatraz restored as a functioning prison. Famously, the site where Capone was incarcerated is located on an island in San Francisco Bay, about 1.25 miles (6,600 feet) from the shore.
In 1963, the Alcatraz prison closed and was later converted into a national park. At the time, the government cited the high costs of maintaining the facility, including the need for daily shipments from the mainland. The prison operated between 1934 and 1963, and President Trump believes it should be reopened.
In a post on Truth Social, the president said that in the past, harkening back to a time when the US was “a more serious Nation [...] we did not hesitate to lock up the most dangerous criminals, and keep them far away from anyone they could harm.”
REBUILD, AND OPEN ALCATRAZ! For too long, America has been plagued by vicious, violent, and repeat Criminal Offenders, the dregs of society, who will never contribute anything other than Misery and Suffering. When we were a more serious Nation, in times past, we did not hesitate…
— Donald J. Trump Posts From His Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) May 4, 2025
It appears the network of supermax prisons is not enough.
The social media post informs the public that he has called on the Bureau of Prisons, the Department of Justice, the Department of Homeland Security, and the FBI “to reopen” Alcatraz, calling on the agencies to ‘enlarge’ the facility. The island spans about 22 acres, or roughly the size of 17 football fields.
Nancy Pelosi labeled the idea as unserious
Former Speaker of the House and San Francisco’s Congressional Representative, Nancy Pelosi, dismissed the idea quickly, labeling it as “not a serious idea. Pelosi and Trump have had a rocky relationship to say the least, and quickly after the president’s comments about the prison-turned-museum that could be turned back into a prison in her district, she took to social media.
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, 2025
Pelosi notes that Alcatraz has been closed for more than sixty years and is an important tourist destination for the city.
Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.
Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.
Complete your personal details to comment