Donald Trump slammed after 'disgusting' and 'unforgivable' Alcatraz 'joke'

Donald Trump has doubled down on the controversial 'Alligator Alcatraz' comment he made about a new migrant detention facility earlier this week as he referenced the prison again in another 'shameful' tweet.

As part of his mission to halt 'all illegal entry into the country' and deport millions of 'illegal aliens', Trump unveiled plans for a new immigration centre in Florida on Tuesday (1 July).

According to the BBC, the 79-year-old nicknamed the facility - which was proposed by state lawmakers to support Trump's deportation agenda - 'Alligator Alcatraz', due to its location at an abandoned air strip in the middle of a Miami swamp.

The state's attorney general James Uthmeier also joked of the detention base: "You don't need to invest that much in the perimeter. If people get out, there's not much waiting for them other than alligators and pythons."

Addressing the centre's development on the lawn of the White House, Trump was also asked by a Fox News reporter: "With Alligator Alcatraz, is the idea that if some illegal immigrant escapes, they just get eaten by an alligator?"

Trump responded: "I guess that’s the concept. Snakes are fast but alligators... we’re going to teach them how to run away from an alligator. Don’t run in a straight line, run *waving hand* like this."

Unsurprisingly, the Republican's remarks landed him in hot water with critics, with many having likened his comments to some kind of dystopian horror movie.

"The MAGA movement is evil," one wrote online, while another added: "Donnie is treating the idea of a concentration camp on US soil as a f**king joke. I'm sure something similar was said by German leadership during the Third Reich."

In spite of the widespread condemnation he faced, however, Trump has since publicly backed his plans again, with the official White House's Twitter account sharing a poster for the new Florida centre, captioned: "ALLIGATOR ALCATRAZ: MAKE AMERICA SAFE AGAIN!"

In the image, the father-of-five can be seen posing beside a trio of alligators in a swamp-like environment, all of whom don navy ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) caps.

Taking to social media, one upset user wrote in response: "And you wonder why people are having issues with ICE....".

Another hit out: "This isn't funny. It's serious and disgusting to be joking about it, frankly. It's an embarrassment."

"This is unforgivably shameful," slammed a third.

"So that’s what truly ICE agents are … and I thought for a few seconds that they are human beings," penned another.

A fifth wrote of the White House's official post: "I thought this was a Parody account. Oh my gosh holy crap. This can't be real. Who hired you?

"Who is posting this stuff? Please don't tell me your my Generation. Do better."

Tyla previously contacted the White House for comment.