Quick Take: Governor Ron DeSantis supported the transfer of 2.6 acres of Miami-Dade College land for a proposed $67 million presidential library for Donald Trump. Critics, including Miami’s mayor-elect, say the trustees approved the transfer in a brief, low-profile vote without adequate public notice. A lawsuit has temporarily halted the project and set a trial for 2026, while trustees later voted to reaffirm the transfer. Trump says the library will be privately financed.
DeSantis Secures Free Miami Land For Trump’s $67M Presidential Library, Prompting Transparency Concerns
Andrew Cabello-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has been linked to a rapid, low-profile transfer of 2.6 acres of Miami college property for a proposed presidential library for former President Donald Trump. The parcel—currently used as a parking lot and reported to be on a $67 million piece of prime Miami real estate—was approved for transfer by the Miami-Dade College Board of Trustees in a vote critics say lacked transparency.
What Happened
In September, following a request from the governor's office, the Miami-Dade College Board of Trustees approved converting 2.6 acres of college-owned land adjacent to the Freedom Tower into the site for a presidential library honoring Mr. Trump. Trustees voted in a brief session after publicly announcing only that they would “discuss potential real estate transactions.”
“We gave away very valuable land to a billionaire for free,” Eileen Higgins, Miami’s mayor-elect, told The Washington Post.
Roberto Alonso, vice chair of the Miami-Dade College Board of Trustees, told reporters the governor’s office sent a letter requesting the land without providing an explanation, and because Miami-Dade is a state college the trustees felt compelled to comply.
The Miami site where Donald Trump wants to build his presidential library is currently used as a parking lot. / Al Diaz/Miami Herald/Tribune News Service via Getty Images
DeSantis’ Role
Governor DeSantis, who briefly challenged Mr. Trump for the 2024 Republican nomination, said he supported the transfer and attempted to persuade Trump’s team to consider an alternate location at Florida Atlantic University in Palm Beach County. According to local reports, Trump’s team preferred the Miami site next to the Freedom Tower.
Reactions
The decision drew immediate criticism from local officials and civic leaders who said the process lacked public notice and debate. The move surprised some trustees themselves and prompted comparisons to preferential treatment for a wealthy private individual.
Legal Challenge And Current Status
In October, a local historian sued the Miami-Dade College Board, alleging the trustees failed to inform the public of the land’s intended use before approving the transfer. An elected, nonpartisan judge temporarily halted the project and set a trial date for 2026. In a subsequent move, trustees voted unanimously to reaffirm the transfer, a step observers said may be intended to defend against the lawsuit.
Trump launched a volatile campaign against DeSantis on the campaign trail. / Evelyn Hockstein / Reuters
Funding And Structure
Reports indicate Mr. Trump plans to finance the library through private donations and has suggested using settlement money from lawsuits and remaining inauguration funds. The Washington Post reported he may follow models used by other presidents and establish a private foundation to oversee the library, which could place elements of the project outside direct government oversight.
Political Context
The episode comes after a contentious period between Mr. Trump and Mr. DeSantis, including highly personal attacks during the 2024 Republican primary. Some commentators have noted the transfer and DeSantis’s advocacy for the project as evidence of shifting political dynamics between the former rivals.
Responses Sought
The Daily Beast reported it had reached out to the White House, the Trump Organization, and Governor DeSantis’s office for comment.
