This week, President Donald Trump made headlines with a list of bold decisions that have sparked strong reactions across the country. From reopening a famous prison to questioning basic legal rights, Trump’s actions have supporters cheering and critics worried. These four announcements—reopening Alcatraz, placing a huge tax on foreign movies, cutting off public media funding, and casting doubt on constitutional protections—have sparked national conversations about what direction the U.S. is heading. Here’s a breakdown of what happened and why people are reacting so strongly. By Julie Rose Kim (EF Academy Pasadena)
1. Reopening Alcatraz Prison
One of Trump’s most surprising announcements was that he wants to reopen Alcatraz, the famous prison on an island in San Francisco Bay. The prison closed in 1963 and is now mostly a tourist attraction where people go on tours and learn about its history. But now, Trump says it’s time to bring it back.
He said the new version of Alcatraz would be a “supermax” prison for the most dangerous criminals in the U.S. In his words, “We’re done being soft on crime. Alcatraz will send a message.”
Some people support this move. They believe that America needs to be tougher on crime and that reopening a place like Alcatraz will scare people from committing serious offenses.
But others think it’s a really bad idea. Critics say this isn’t about solving crime—it’s just meant to look dramatic. California leaders, including Governor Gavin Newsom and former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, quickly spoke out against the idea. They say it would cost a lot of money to rebuild a prison on a small island and that it would just be a symbol, not a real solution.
Criminal justice experts have also raised concerns about whether isolating prisoners in a place like that is even ethical. Some say we should be focusing more on rehabilitation and fixing the system, not bringing back old prisons.
2. Taxing Foreign Movies?
Next, Trump announced a 100% tariff on all foreign-made films. That means any movie not made in the U.S. will cost twice as much to import. His goal, according to him, is to protect American filmmakers and help the U.S. film industry compete with international studios that get financial support from their governments.
At a rally, he said, “Why should we be importing movies that take jobs from our workers? American films come first.”
Some people agree and say this will boost the U.S. film industry, especially smaller creators who struggle to compete with big foreign films.
But a lot of others—including actors, directors, and international movie fans—are not happy. They say this move could hurt creativity and limit the kinds of stories we get to see. International movies often win awards and show different cultures and perspectives. This tax might make it way too expensive to bring those films to the U.S.
There’s also concern that other countries will retaliate by taxing American movies. That could be bad news for Hollywood, since American movies are popular all over the world and make a lot of money overseas.
So while this decision might seem like it’s helping Americans, it could end up isolating the U.S. film industry instead.
3. Cutting Off Public Media
Trump’s third big move was an executive order to completely defund NPR and PBS—two of the most well-known public media outlets in the U.S. These organizations receive money from the federal government to help run national and local programs, including educational shows and news coverage.
Trump claims that both NPR and PBS are “too biased” and shouldn’t be supported by taxpayer dollars. He said, “We’re not going to fund left-wing propaganda.”
The response to this was immediate. Leaders at both NPR and PBS said that public media is supposed to serve everyone, not just people who agree with one side. They pointed out that their programs include things like Sesame Street, local emergency alerts, and unbiased election information.
What worries people the most is how this will affect local stations, especially in small towns and rural areas. These places rely on public media to stay informed, and without federal funding, many of those stations could shut down.
Legal experts also say this might be a First Amendment issue. If the president is cutting funding because he doesn’t like what journalists say about him, that could be seen as government interference in free speech and the press.
4. Do Non-Citizens Still Have Legal Rights?
During a recent interview, President Trump was asked whether non-citizens living in the U.S. are still protected by due process—which is the legal right to a fair trial and fair treatment under the law.
His response: “I don’t know. We’ll ask the lawyers.”
This answer caused a huge reaction. Many people were shocked because the Constitution says that all persons in the U.S.—not just citizens—are guaranteed basic rights, like due process. This has been backed by Supreme Court rulings for decades.
Civil rights groups say Trump’s comment is dangerous. It could make people think it’s okay to treat immigrants unfairly or ignore their legal rights. Lawyers and judges have made it clear that even undocumented immigrants have the right to a fair trial if they’re accused of something or detained by the government.
Some believe Trump’s comment was just careless. Others think it reflects a bigger pattern of trying to weaken protections for immigrants.
Either way, it’s adding more fuel to the fire in an already heated national debate over immigration.
5. The Bigger Picture
These four announcements are very different, but they all show something important: Trump is using his second term to take strong, controversial action—and he’s not afraid of backlash.
His supporters say this is exactly what they voted for: a president who “gets things done” and doesn’t care what the media or political elites think. They like that he’s focusing on law and order, protecting American businesses, and challenging what they see as bias in the media and courts.
But his critics say these actions go too far. They worry that Trump is using his power to silence the press, attack immigrants, and bring back harsh policies. They also say these decisions could make the U.S. more divided and isolated from the rest of the world.
There were already protests in several cities this week, including outside NPR stations and in places like Los Angeles and New York. People held signs saying things like “Protect the Free Press” and “Justice for All Means All.”
Final Thoughts
President Trump’s recent announcements—on reopening Alcatraz, imposing tariffs on foreign films, ending federal support for public broadcasting, and addressing due process rights—have sparked discussion across a wide range of political, legal, and cultural issues. Supporters view these actions as efforts to strengthen domestic industries, enforce public safety, and reshape longstanding institutions. Critics, on the other hand, express concern about potential impacts on civil liberties, international relationships, and access to public services.
As with any major policy change, it is important for individuals to stay informed, seek out reliable sources, and consider multiple perspectives. Whether these decisions result in long-term change or are challenged in the courts or Congress, they reflect ongoing debates in American society about government power, national identity, and constitutional rights.
Remaining engaged and educated on these topics allows citizens to better understand the direction of current leadership and to participate thoughtfully in future discussions and decisions.
<Student Reporter Julie Rose Kim>julierosekim0721@gmail.com
Julie Kim is a Student in EF Academy Pasadena
Editor’s Note:
This article presents a timely overview of Trump’s controversial decisions.
