Trump Targets Hollywood, Revives Alcatraz, and Sparks Pope Donald Outrage

President Donald Trump is stirring the pot again, juggling bold moves that have Hollywood reeling, Alcatraz poised for a comeback, and the Vatican fuming over an AI-generated papal prank.

First, Trump’s threat to slap 100% tariffs on films shot abroad has Tinseltown in a tailspin. Countries like Canada, with their tempting tax breaks, have long lured American filmmakers to shoot in places like Toronto, dressed up as New York or L.A. California Governor Gavin Newsom is pushing for a massive $7.5 billion federal tax credit to keep production stateside, but Trump dismissed him as "incompetent," blaming him for Hollywood’s decline. The real culprit? Streaming giants like Netflix and Hulu, which have viewers glued to their screens at home, not in theaters.

Then there’s Alcatraz. Trump wants to revive the infamous San Francisco island prison, once home to notorious gangsters like Al Capone. He’s pitching it as a tough-on-crime move, harking back to a "more serious" America. The frigid, shark-infested waters around "the Rock" made escape nearly impossible, but rebuilding it? That’s a pricey proposition, likely more symbolic than practical, despite claims from allies like Pam Bondi that it’ll save money.

And then there’s the Pope Donald saga. An AI-generated image of Trump dressed as the Pope, posted on the official White House account, has sparked outrage. Trump called it a "joke" and distanced himself, claiming he just wanted "some fun." But Catholic leaders aren’t laughing. The New York State Catholic Conference and others slammed it as disrespectful, especially with the Vatican in the midst of selecting a new pontiff. Former Italian PM Matteo Renzi called Trump a "clown," while a Springfield bishop invoked scripture, warning that "God is not mocked."

In a surprising twist, Trump aligned with the Biden administration on abortion pills, asking a Texas judge to toss a lawsuit from conservative attorneys general seeking to restrict mifepristone. Filed before Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, known for his anti-abortion stance, the move is procedural but could delay tighter rules on a drug approved by the FDA in 2000.

Trump’s knack for dominating headlines—whether through tariffs, prisons, or papal parodies—shows he’s still a master at keeping the world guessing.