The battle over the proposed Donald J. Trump Presidential Library in downtown Miami has taken a dramatic turn, as a Florida judge temporarily blocked the transfer of a prime 2.63-acre parcel of land from Miami Dade College to the Trump Presidential Library Foundation. The legal wrangling has drawn in state officials, local activists, and the eyes of the nation, thrusting questions of public trust, political influence, and transparency into the spotlight.
On October 14, 2025, Florida Circuit Judge Mavel Ruiz issued a temporary injunction halting the transfer of the valuable downtown site, which sits adjacent to Miami-Dade County's historic Freedom Tower and currently serves as an employee parking lot for Miami Dade College’s Wolfson Campus. According to the Miami Herald, the ruling came after historian and activist Marvin Dunn filed a lawsuit arguing that the college had failed to provide reasonable public notice before its board of trustees voted to hand over the land for the future Trump library. Judge Ruiz agreed, stating, “The Court does not believe that the notice was reasonable.”
The saga began in September, when Miami Dade College received a letter from Governor Ron DeSantis’s office requesting the land for the presidential library. On September 23, the board of trustees convened an early-morning meeting that lasted less than five minutes, during which they voted to transfer the property at no cost to the state government. Notably, the agenda for the meeting contained only a vague reference to the discussion of potential real estate transactions, without specifying which property was involved or its intended use. The meeting was not streamed online, unlike previous sessions this year, as reported by Fox News and The New York Times.
Shortly after the vote, Eric Trump, son of the former president and president of the Trump Presidential Library Foundation, announced that the land had been acquired. He proclaimed that the future library “will be the greatest Presidential Library ever built, honoring the greatest President our Nation has ever known.” The planned site, surrounded by luxury high-rises and boasting waterfront views, is widely regarded as a coveted piece of Miami real estate. Miami Dade County currently values the parcel at more than $67 million, but real estate experts cited by The New York Times believe its market value could be at least $360 million. The college originally purchased the land for $25 million in 2004.
Marvin Dunn, a retired Florida International University professor and a well-known chronicler of Black history in South Florida, quickly filed suit to stop the transfer. His complaint, as quoted by Fox News, argued, “Miami Dade College is a public educational institution, not a political enterprise, and must not become the custodian of any former president’s personal monument. The proposed conveyance would divert land held in trust for educational purposes to serve private and partisan interests.” Dunn, who previously ran for Congress as a Democrat, led a protest against the land transfer and maintains that the process violated Florida’s Sunshine Law, which requires open meetings and reasonable public notice for decisions by public boards.
Judge Ruiz’s ruling echoed these concerns, finding that the college’s notice was not sufficient to inform the public of a decision that could affect their rights. “This is not an easy decision,” Ruiz stated from the bench, emphasizing that her ruling was based on procedure, not politics. She added, “This is not a case, at least for this court, rooted in politics.” Ruiz further noted her surprise at the minimal requirements for reasonable notice under the Sunshine Law, but ultimately concluded that prior case law required “fair and reasonable” notice that would allow the public a chance to weigh in.
Attorneys for Miami Dade College pushed back, arguing that they had satisfied all legal requirements and suggesting that Dunn’s lawsuit was politically motivated. Jesus Suarez, an attorney for the college, told The Associated Press, “There is no requirement under Florida law that there be specificity on notice, because those trustees can come into that room and talk to each other about whatever they wish.” The college’s legal team indicated plans to appeal the ruling, insisting that the September 23 meeting was “lawfully noticed in all respects.”
The state government has also waded into the dispute. On October 15, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced his office would intervene to represent Miami Dade College in the lawsuit, calling the litigation “bogus.” Uthmeier, who sits on the Florida Cabinet alongside Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia and Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson, previously voted in favor of designating the parcel for the Trump Presidential Library. “It was an honor to vote in favor of making Florida the future home of President Trump’s Presidential Library,” Uthmeier said, adding, “I look forward to the patriotic stories the Trump Library Foundation will showcase for generations to come in the Free State of Florida.”
The decision to gift the land to the Trump Presidential Library Foundation was made last month by Governor DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet, further politicizing the issue. A spokesperson for DeSantis condemned Judge Ruiz’s ruling as “yet another example of an activist judge attempting to undermine President Trump and his legacy,” vowing, “The Donald J. Trump Presidential Library will be housed in the Free State of Florida.” Republican Representative Randy Fine took the criticism a step further, suggesting that impeachment of judges who “got out of line” should be considered in such cases.
Meanwhile, supporters of the lawsuit maintain that the issue is not about political allegiance but about the integrity of public institutions and transparency in government. “We believe that Judge Ruiz made a well-reasoned decision on this matter of great importance,” said Richard Brodsky, an attorney for Dunn, in comments to Axios. “We hope that Miami Dade College will give proper notice and allow public input.”
Judge Ruiz has made it clear that Miami Dade College can still convey the land, provided the trustees hold a new, publicly-noticed meeting that allows for public input and debate. Alternatively, the college’s attorneys can continue to argue in court that their previous notice was sufficient under state law. Until then, all work on transferring the property has been paused.
The controversy surrounding the Trump Presidential Library site in Miami encapsulates the broader national debate over the use of public resources for private or political projects, the transparency of government decision-making, and the enduring divisions in American politics. For now, the fate of the waterfront parcel—and the future of the Trump Presidential Library in Florida—hangs in the balance, awaiting further legal and public scrutiny.
