Tourists claim Trump isolated, running a prison-like territory akin to Alcatraz.
Rewritten Article:
priority: peers
Slobs of tourists hauled their way around Alcatraz Island on Monday morn, gazing into minuscule prison cells, talking about the infamous criminals that resided there—and those who attempted to break loose.
The tour was pretty standard at the renowned San Francisco spot, apart from one topic that simply couldn't be dodged in the chatter echoing from the crumbling cellblock walls.
How on earth does President Donald Trump plan to transform Alcatraz back into a federal prison?
During the morning tour groups, international travelers filled the air with curious mutters, as many had received news alerts on their phones or read articles over breakfast about Trump's idea.
Some questioned whether they might be among the last visitors to bask on the island before it's transformed. Yet, no one seemed to think his plan was nearly as brilliant as Trump seemed to believe.
"I reckoned it was a joke," said Philipp Neumann, a visitor from Germany. "It's a crumbling ruin, isn't it, more or less?" Indeed, many structures on the island are crumbling, with buildings missing roofs, walls, and even floors.
The cells feature dilapidated toilets, with no running water, sewage system, or utilities.
The cellblocks' exterior walls are so compromised that they're reinforced with netting to stop chunks of concrete from plummeting onto tourists' heads. Foul bird droppings blanket most of the island.
All supplies, including food and fuel, must be delivered by boat.
Ever since the infamous prison closed its doors to its last inmate 62 years ago, Alcatraz has seen more triumph in fiction than as a functioning penitentiary. When the federal government abandoned the facility, officials considered it a dilapidated relic unsuitable for housing prisoners.
Since then, Alcatraz has garnered more success on the silver screen than on its original purpose. The 1962 film "Birdman of Alcatraz" led Burt Lancaster to score an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. "Escape From Alcatraz" (1979) starring Clint Eastwood and "The Rock" (1996) introduced Alcatraz to younger generations of movie enthusiasts.
It's possible that Trump may have had "Escape From Alcatraz" in mind when he announced on social media over the weekend that he had ordered federal agencies to remodel and reopen Alcatraz as "a symbol of Law, Order, and JUSTICE."
When asked about his inspiration, he chuckled and made light of his movie-making skills, while praising Alcatraz's legendary security.
"Nobody ever escaped," he stated, albeit not completely accurate. "One person came close, but they -- as you already know the story -- their clothing was badly torn, covered in shark bites, lots of problems."
In the movie "Escape From Alcatraz," fragments of a raincoat are found drifting in the bay.
Few years after federal authorities ceased using Alcatraz as a prison, Native American activists occupied the island for 19 months (1969-1971) and sought control of the land in the heart of San Francisco Bay. The occupation ended when armed federal agents retook the territory.
Alcatraz opened to the public in 1973 and remains a park, museum, and bird sanctuary managed by the National Park Service. Alcatraz Island became a National Historic Landmark in 1986 and hosts 1.4 million visitors each year.
According to Trump on Monday, Alcatraz "is a massive hulk rotting and rusting."
"It embodies something that is both horrible and beautiful, strong, and weak. It holds a lot of interesting qualities," he said.
Alcatraz shuttered its doors in conjunction with several factors, including the severe financial burden of shipping all supplies by boat, a small number of prisoners compared to the additional expense, and the facility's vulnerability to escapes. In its years as a federal penitentiary from 1934 to 1963, Alcatraz processed a mere 1,576 inmates, with a capacity to hold just 336 at one time. By comparison, there are approximately 156,000 incarcerated individuals within federal prisons nationwide.
In its tenure as a prison, a considerable number of individuals managed to escape, including two who were caught and the three dramatized in "Escape From Alcatraz." With spoons, they carved out of the crumbling prison walls, scurried off the island on a homemade raft, and disappeared forever.
This escape attempt prompted George Christopher, who served as San Francisco Mayor during the time, to call for the prison's closure. He cited a lack of security and argued that repairs on the dilapidated structures would require millions of dollars. Robert F. Kennedy, who served as attorney general at the time, followed through on the closure.
San Francisco's tourism industry relies heavily on tourism, with visiting Alcatraz listed alongside other must-do activities like visiting the Golden Gate Bridge or taking a cable car ride. The city cannot afford to lose tourism dollars, as it faces potential budget deficits of up to $1 billion within the next two years.
Mayor Daniel Lurie quickly dismissed Trump's idea as "not a serious proposal." Rafael Mandelman, president of the Board of Supervisors, was more direct, labeling it "typically absurd."
Trump has already targeted San Francisco in his endeavors this year. In February, the President announced his intention to reduce the functionality of the Presidio Trust, which manages a popular park with stunning vistas of the Golden Gate Bridge.
The Trump administration confirmed on Monday that they were following through on the President's plans. William K. Marshall III, Director of the Bureau of Prisons, declared that an immediate assessment of Alcatraz would occur.
"We eagerly look forward to restoring this powerful symbol of law, order, and justice," he stated in a press release. "We will be actively collaborating with our law enforcement and other federal partners to resume this essential mission."
Federal officials referred to the island as "USP Alcatraz," a historical reference on the Alcatraz Island park's website.
tourists, Alcatraz, San Francisco, Donald Trump, prison
© 2025 The New York Times Company
- International travelers, during their tour of Alcatraz, expressed their concerns about President Trump's plan to transform the island back into a federal prison, with some questioning whether they might be among the last visitors before the changes.
- Philipp Neumann, a visitor from Germany, expressed doubt over Trump's plan, stating, "I reckoned it was a joke… It's a crumbling ruin, isn't it, more or less?"
- The cellblocks on Alcatraz are in a state of disrepair, with the cells featuring dilapidated toilets, missing roofs, walls, and even floors, around which much of the chatter on the tour revolved.
- Social media and general news outlets have been abuzz with stories about Trump's idea to remodel and reopen Alcatraz as a symbol of law, order, and justice, sparking discussions among travelers and citizens alike.
- As a symbol of law, order, and justice, Alcatraz has garnered significant attention in the entertainment industry, with various films like "Birdman of Alcatraz," "Escape From Alcatraz," and "The Rock," introducing the island to younger generations, possibly influencing Trump's decision.
