President Trump’s Alcatraz Prison Proposal Raises Eyebrows
On Sunday, President Donald Trump shocked the nation by proposing the reopening and expansion of the notorious Alcatraz prison, intending to house “ruthless and violent” criminals.
In his message on Truth Social, Trump announced he is instructing the Federal Bureau of Prisons to reconstruct the maximum-security facility, located on an island adjacent to San Francisco’s iconic Golden Gate Bridge. This comes shortly after Donald Trump Jr. jokingly suggested the need to reinstate the infamous prison.
Originally decommissioned in 1963 due to high operating costs, Trump aims to revive Alcatraz as part of a broader crime-fighting strategy. He has also proposed an executive order for a facility at Guantánamo Bay designed to detain a minimum of 30,000 undocumented immigrants.
Alcatraz, which has served as a tourist attraction for over six decades, generates upwards of $60 million in revenue annually, drawing about 1.6 million visitors each year, as reported by the National Park Service. This proposal, however, could face challenges from other parties interested in the site.
Earlier this year, Saudi Arabian boxing promoter Turki Alalshikh hinted at planning a boxing event at Alcatraz for March 2026. He remarked on the concept, stating, “Imagine if there was a fight at Alcatraz jail—it’s like a museum now.”
World champion Teofimo Lopez has confirmed he is in discussions to defend his title at the storied prison. Seeing this as an honor, Lopez expressed eagerness to potentially carry out the event there. Notably, Conor McGregor also received a similar offer from Alalshikh but declined, deeming it not worth his time.
Nevertheless, to proceed with any boxing event, approvals would be necessary from the National Park Service, which oversees Alcatraz. With Trump’s redevelopment intentions, these discussions will be crucial. Given the significant deterioration of the facility, both revitalization efforts and preparations for hosting events will demand substantial resources.
