Trump moves to re-open Alcatraz for America's 'most ruthless and violent offenders'

Donald Trump has announced that his government will re-build and re-open Alcatraz.

The president said the infamous prison would be "substantially enlarged" to accommodate more prisoners.

"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," Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social Monday.

"When we were a more serious Nation, in times past, we did not hesitate to lock up the most dangerous criminals, and keep them far away from anyone they could harm."

He made it clear that "that's the way it's supposed to be."

"No longer will we tolerate these Serial Offenders who spread filth, bloodshed, and mayhem on our streets," Trump continued. "That is why, today, I am directing the Bureau of Prisons, together with the Department of Justice, FBI, and Homeland Security, to reopen a substantially enlarged and rebuilt ALCATRAZ, to house America's most ruthless and violent Offenders."

He argued the re-opening of Alcatraz would "serve as a symbol of Law, Order, and JUSTICE," adding that the United States "will no longer be held hostage to criminals, thugs, and Judges that are afraid to do their job and allow us to remove criminals, who came into our Country illegally."

Alcatraz opened in the 1850s, and was shuttered in 1963 due to the exorbitant cost of running such an isolated institution. According to USA Today, it was nearly three times more expensive to operate than other federal prisons, as everything needed to be shuttled there via boat.

Since the 1970s, Alcatraz has served as a museum, attracting 1.4 million visitors per year. It is a staple on the San Francisco tourism scene, and brings in tens of millions of dollars in revenue.