Trump Says He Will Reopen Alcatraz, Tariff Movies Made Outside U.S.

CALIFORNIA — In a flurry of social media posts Sunday, President Donald Trump announced plans to reopen Alcatraz Prison and to impose a 100 percent tariff on movies made in other countries.

The notorious Bay Area island prison has served as a tourist draw since it closed more than 60 years ago. In the announcement made on his Truth Social site Sunday, Trump indicated he will direct his government to expand the prison. It comes the same day the president made headlines by refusing to say on "Meet the Press" if he will uphold the U.S. Constitution with respect to due process.

On his social media site, Trump posted,“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 to lock up the most dangerous criminals, and keep them far away from anyone they could harm. 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. 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.

"We 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. The reopening of ALCATRAZ will serve as a symbol of Law, Order, and JUSTICE," he added.

The prison, which closed in 1963, is located in the San Francisco Bay less than two miles off the coast of San Francisco. It is currently open to tourists and receives about 1.4 million visitors per year, according to the Golden Gate National Parks Conservatory.

The order comes as Trump has been clashing with the courts as he tries to send accused gang members to a notorious prison in El Salvador, without due process. Trump has also talked about wanting to send American citizens there and to other foreign prisons.

The Alcatraz announcement was followed by another major announcement affecting the Golden State. It's not immediately clear how a 100 percent tariff on foreign films would work. Trump indicated the tariff is designed to bolster America's domination of the entertainment industry, which has lost ground to other nations that lure film crews with tax incentives. He deemed foreign-made films a national security threat.

"The Movie Industry in America is DYING a very fast death. Other Countries are offering all sorts of incentives to draw our filmmakers and studios away from the United States," he wrote. "Hollywood, and many other areas within the U.S.A., are being devastated. This is a concerted effort by other Nations and, therefore, a National Security threat. It is, in addition to everything else, messaging and propaganda! Therefore, I am authorizing the Department of Commerce, and the United States Trade Representative, to immediately begin the process of instituting a 100% Tariff on any and all Movies coming into our Country that are produced in Foreign Lands."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.