Florida Set to Donate Prime Miami Waterfront for Trump Presidential Library
In a move that’s drawing national attention, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and top Republican state officials are poised to hand over a high-value downtown Miami property—facing Biscayne Bay—to a nonprofit linked to former President Donald J. Trump for a future presidential library.
What We Know So Far
- The property was previously owned by Miami Dade College until trustees quietly transferred it to the state last week.
- Estimated value: hundreds of millions of dollars.
- The Florida Cabinet—comprising the governor, attorney general, agriculture commissioner, and chief financial officer—will vote on the donation on Tuesday, September 30, 2025.
- Despite months of site scouting by Trump’s son Eric and son-in-law Michael Boulos, no formal library plans have been released.
Key Players Behind the Move
| Role | Name | Position on Donation |
|---|---|---|
| Governor | Ron DeSantis | Publicly endorsed |
| Attorney General | James Uthmeier | Publicly endorsed |
| Trump Family Rep | Eric Trump & Michael Boulos | Incorporated FL-based foundation in May 2025 |
Why This Matters
Presidential libraries are typically funded privately but serve as public archives and museums. However, critics question the transparency of this deal, especially since:
- The Miami Dade College board approved the property transfer without discussion.
- The state justifies the gift by claiming the library will provide “greater public benefit” than state ownership.
- The Trump Organization and White House have not responded to requests for comment on library design, timeline, or funding.
What’s Next?
If approved, the land would effectively come under Trump family control through their nonprofit. This sets the stage for what could become one of the most valuable—and controversial—presidential libraries in U.S. history.
For more on presidential legacy projects, see our deep dive on [INTERNAL_LINK:presidential-libraries].
