Miami Dade College downtown campus Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

A prime piece of Miami real estate is at the center of contentious debates in south Florida. The 2.63 acre site in question is owned by Miami Dade College (MDC) and has a conservative financial worth estimated at $67 million, with commercial potential exceeding estimates of $300 million.

Groundwork for a potential Trump Presidential Library in Florida was laid as early as May 2025, when the Donald J. Trump Presidential Library Foundation was established in Florida, with first son Eric Trump as a named trustee of the fund. The other two names on the nonprofit registration are the President’s son-in-law, Michael Boulos, and the President’s attorney, James Kiley. This foundation and an earlier entity, the Donald J. Trump Presidential Library Fund, existed simultaneously for several months.

In June 2025, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed legislation ensuring that the state government, rather than local “counties, municipalities, or other political subdivisions," would have “all regulatory authority over the establishment, maintenance, activities, and operations of presidential libraries."

On September 11, DeSantis finalized the appointment of two members of the MDC Board of Trustees, the entirety of which is currently appointed and endorsed by the governor. Twelve days later, the Board voted quietly and unanimously to donate the prime piece of MDC real estate to the state. That same day, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier tweeted publicly that the land would be used as a presidential library.

On September 26, the original Trump Presidential Library Fund went inactive. By September 30, the Florida Cabinet had voted unanimously to donate the MDC land to the Foundation established in May, and Eric Trump joined in tweeting about the future library.

“I am extremely proud to announce a UNANIMOUS vote by the Florida Cabinet for the conveyance of land for the @realDonaldTrump Presidential Library,” he wrote. “A large thank you to @GovRonDeSantis & @AGJamesUthmeier who have been incredible partners in this endeavor.”

Florida has broad open record laws known as the Sunshine Laws, which hold local governments to exacting standards of transparency. On October 6, Miami historian, retired professor, and activist, Dr. Martin Dunn filed a lawsuit against the Board for their violation of the Sunshine Law in the lack of public disclosure about the vote. Circuit Judge Mavel Ruiz temporarily blocked the property transfer as the case proceeded, in agreement with Dunn, and set a trial date for 2026. However, Uthmeier then stepped in, assigning his own staff lawyers to the case. The Board of Trustees held a second meeting on December 2 to redo the vote publicly in an attempt to avoid prolonged legal proceedings. Though the meeting was not livestreamed, an announcement was made detailing the agenda and informing attendees that they could sign up in advance to speak. Attendees registered up until the time the meeting began.

After hours of public comment from nearly 100 speakers, the Board again unanimously decided to donate the land to the Trump Library Foundation.

On December 18, Ruiz dismissed Dunn’s case, ruling that any violation of the Sunshine Law had been rectified by the second meeting. However, the injunction was dismissed “without prejudice,” meaning Dunn can file again in the future.

IDEOLOGICAL AND FINANCIAL RESISTANCE

In addition to complaints over the ways in which the property was transferred comes opposition to using this specific property for a presidential library. The land sits directly beside the Freedom Tower, a former processing center for Cuban exiles turned museum and historic landmark. One attendee at the December 2 meeting expressed her dismay, saying, “I am a Cuban, Catholic, and Republican, and a political refugee. The idea that you want to honor a president that has such contempt for our community is unbelievable.”

Not everyone shares this opinion. MDC Board member Marcell Felipe, founder of the Inspire America Foundation and chairman of the American Museum of the Cuban Diaspora, wrote in an op-ed for the Miami Herald, “The Freedom Tower—the tallest building in the city when our families first arrived—now stands dwarfed by the skyline we helped build. To see it joined by a presidential library is a testament to that progress and a point of pride.”

According to the New York Times,supporters are counting on Trump’s “local popularity, including among Hispanics, who make up a majority of Miami’s population.” Supporters say that “a presidential library would bring more tourism, prestige and research opportunities to Miami, a place that often feels as if it is still trying to prove itself as a big city.”

DeSantis agrees: “Having the Trump Presidential Library in Miami will be good for Florida, for the city, and for Miami Dade College,” he stated on his website. “No state has supported the President’s agenda more than the Free State of Florida, and I was proud to spearhead the successful effort to house this historic presidential library right here in his home state.”

Financially, the property has entanglements. Louis Wolfson, descendant of MDC founder Col. Mitchell Wolfson and fourth-generation supporter of the college, wrote in the Miami Herald, “Any project pursued on this land, whether tied to a presidential library or a broader mixed-use vision, must ultimately compensate MDC fairly, expand opportunities for students, and deliver economic benefits to the community at large.”

Many feel that in donating the land, rather than selling it, the college Board of Trustees has denied current and future students of any financial benefit. “If MDC had sold this land at a very conservative valuation of $67 million, it could award over 23,000 scholarships to students for one year at the current tuition cost of $2,838,” according to Wolfson.

“The fiduciary obligation that you all have as members of this board is to do, in a real estate transaction, what is quote ‘best for the college,’” said an attendee during the December 2 meeting’s public comment portion. “There is no compensation provided to the college for this land.”

Further adding to the debate is the fact that only a portion of the land is required to be used as a presidential library. The remaining space could have commercial potential. “This is like the mac daddy development site from a profitability perspective,” Miami condo analyst Peter Zalewski said in the Miami Herald. The conversation is dominated by concerns that income generated by commercial developments such as high-rise condos or an adjacent hotel will not go back to the college.

When asked what the benefit of a presidential library would be to the students at MDC, Dr. Dunn told LJ, “Nothing. There is none.” As he pointed out, even the possibility of student internships at a hotel “are not equivalent to that much money.”

Michael Bileca, the Chair of the MDC Board of Trustees, insisted at the December 2 meeting that “In the event of anything ancillary on a revenue-generated or profit-generated basis…the college should look and will advocate for a revenue share to come back to the college.”

NEXT STEPS

Dunn says that he will continue pursuing legal action. “We’re going to try to obtain a declaration of guilt, which may allow discovery of who knew what and when,” he told LJ. He is also considering the option to file a federal lawsuit. “The potential financial benefits to the President are in violation to the Constitution and state law. The Constitution allows for the transfer, but not if there is a financial benefit involved.”

When asked what he wanted the public, particularly librarians and information professionals, to know, Dunn explained, “This is an issue decided by courts, and not really a place for protest.” Statements, he said, would be more meaningful in potential future court cases. “Any statement from individuals or organizations reiterating the benefit of the college keeping the land would help.”

But despite everything, Dunn remains optimistic. “I am a child of Jim Crow,” he said. “I have seen and studied some of the darkest parts of this country’s history. And I am more optimistic about our country than I ever have been. We have a way of coming back from dark moments in our history. We come together when we need to.”

“We’re going through a moment that will pass,” Dunn added. “The American ideal that we all strive for is alive and well in our country, including in Florida.”