In a move that could reshape Miami’s downtown skyline and spark a new chapter in presidential legacy-building, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has announced a proposal to establish the Donald J. Trump Presidential Library on a coveted 2.63-acre parcel adjacent to the city’s iconic Freedom Tower. The plan, which will be put to a vote by the Florida Cabinet on September 30, 2025, has ignited both excitement and debate across the Sunshine State and beyond.
According to a press release from Governor DeSantis’ office, the proposed site sits at the heart of Miami’s bustling urban core, currently serving as an employee parking lot for Miami Dade College’s Wolfson Campus. If approved, the library would become the first presidential library ever established in Florida, offering what DeSantis described as “additional economic development opportunities across South Florida and a chance for generations of Americans to honor the service and legacy of America’s 45th and 47th President, Donald J. Trump.”
“President Trump has achieved results for the American people and made a lasting impact on our nation’s history,” DeSantis stated in his announcement, as reported by RedBroward and Action News Jax. “No state has better delivered the President’s agenda than the Free State of Florida, and we would be honored to house his presidential library here in his home state.”
The location is no ordinary plot of land. Nestled beside the storied Freedom Tower—a Spanish Revival skyscraper once home to one of Miami’s first newspapers and later a beacon for Cuban asylum seekers—the site is steeped in immigrant history and symbolism. The Freedom Tower, now operated as a museum by Miami Dade College after a $25 million renovation, has long been regarded as the “Ellis Island of the South.” It stands as a testament to the city’s vibrant immigrant heritage and the aspirations of those fleeing communism, as highlighted by The Associated Press and Miami Herald.
But the symbolism cuts both ways. While Cuban Americans, who make up a significant portion of Miami’s electorate, voted overwhelmingly for Trump in the last presidential election, his administration’s hardline immigration policies—especially mass deportations—have left some in the community feeling conflicted. As Miami Herald notes, the juxtaposition is striking: a president known for his aggressive deportation agenda could soon have his legacy enshrined steps away from a building that once welcomed exiles seeking freedom.
The process leading up to this moment has unfolded with remarkable speed and precision. On September 23, 2025, Miami Dade College’s board of trustees held a brief, unpublicized meeting in which they voted to transfer the downtown parking lot to the state, setting the stage for its dedication to Trump’s library. The specifics of the property and its intended use were not detailed in the agenda, and the college’s general counsel declined to provide documents related to the vote, according to Miami Herald. Immediately after, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced on social media, “Next week, the Florida Cabinet will vote to dedicate land at Miami Dade College to house the Presidential Library of Donald J. Trump. I’ll be voting yes!”
Uthmeier, who has described the project as honoring “the greatest political comeback story in history,” also appeared in a promotional video touting the location’s symbolic value. “I can think of no better location to tell the story of Donald Trump,” he said, as reported by Miami Herald. Miami Dade College President Madeline Pumariega called the opportunity “historic” for the institution, while Roberto Alonso, vice chairman of the college’s Board of Trustees, reflected on his own family’s ties to the Freedom Tower, saying the library “would really take Miami to the next level.”
Behind the scenes, the Trump family and their advisors have been actively scouting sites for the library. Eric Trump, the president’s son, toured parking lots next to the Freedom Tower earlier this year, and the Trump Organization’s legal team confirmed that Miami Dade College was pitched as a possible satellite location. Other institutions, including Florida Atlantic University and Florida International University, had also vied for the honor, but Miami’s downtown ultimately emerged as the frontrunner.
If the Florida Cabinet gives the green light, the state will gift the land to the Donald J. Trump Presidential Library Foundation—a nonprofit formally registered in Florida this May—at no cost. The only stipulation: construction on a “Presidential library, museum, and/or center” must begin within five years. The foundation’s board of trustees includes Eric Trump, Miami-based son-in-law Michael Boulos, and New York attorney James Kiley.
Financially, the library project is already off to a robust start. According to Miami Herald, at least $53 million in donations have been committed, much of it stemming from settlements in Trump’s high-profile defamation lawsuits against major media companies. ABC, Meta, and Paramount have all agreed to multi-million dollar settlements—$15 million, $22 million, and $16 million respectively—payable to the library foundation. Notably, presidential libraries are not required to publicly disclose their donors, a point that has drawn scrutiny in the past.
Plans for the library are ambitious. Sources told Miami Herald that the Miami Dade College site is spacious enough to potentially display the $400 million Boeing 747 jet that was converted into Air Force One, which the White House secured for free from Qatar. The library would house archives from both of Trump’s terms, and serve as a museum chronicling his presidency—an era marked by both fervent support and intense controversy.
The political backdrop to the proposal is hard to ignore. Earlier in 2025, Governor DeSantis signed legislation preempting local governments from blocking the development of a presidential library, a move aimed at preventing opposition from more liberal-leaning counties or municipalities. This legislative maneuvering underscores the high political stakes and the desire among Florida’s Republican leadership to cement the state’s role as a key player in Trump’s post-presidential legacy.
Yet, not everyone is on board. The location’s proximity to the Freedom Tower—a symbol of refuge for those fleeing authoritarian regimes—has prompted some to question the appropriateness of the site, given Trump’s immigration record. Recent protests at the Freedom Tower against his administration’s crackdown on migrants serve as a reminder of the deep divisions that still linger. Still, supporters argue that the site’s rich history makes it the ideal place to tell the complex story of Trump’s presidency.
As the September 30 vote approaches, all eyes are on Tallahassee and Miami. If approved, the Donald J. Trump Presidential Library will not only mark a first for Florida but also add a new—and likely contentious—landmark to Miami’s ever-evolving landscape. Whether seen as a fitting tribute or a provocative choice, the decision is sure to reverberate far beyond the city’s sun-soaked streets.
In the coming days, the fate of this high-profile project will be decided, setting the stage for what could become one of the most talked-about presidential libraries in American history.
