The city of Miami is poised to become the site of one of the most consequential and controversial presidential libraries in American history. On September 24, 2025, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis formally proposed that President Donald Trump’s presidential library be built on a 2.63-acre parcel of land adjacent to the iconic Freedom Tower in downtown Miami, according to the Associated Press. The proposal, which has already received a unanimous green light from the Miami Dade College Board of Trustees, is set to go before the Florida Cabinet for a decisive vote on September 30.
The land in question is currently a parking lot used by Miami-Dade College staff and faculty. But its real value goes far beyond asphalt and painted lines. Nestled beside Biscayne Bay and facing Miami’s bustling Biscayne Boulevard, the site sits next to the historic Freedom Tower—a Spanish Revival skyscraper that once housed the Miami Daily News and later served as a sanctuary for Cuban exiles fleeing Fidel Castro’s regime. Today, the tower is a museum and a symbol of Miami’s deep immigrant roots, operated by Miami Dade College. County records value the parcel at more than $66 million, highlighting its prime real estate status.
Governor DeSantis, a Republican and longtime Trump ally, has cast the library as a testament to Florida’s growing stature. Speaking at Florida International University, DeSantis said, “I think the fact that they want to do it right here in Miami, right by that Freedom Tower, to me is a testament that they view Miami as a city on the rise and the state of Florida as a place on the rise.” He added, “It’s a good signal for the state that they would want to invest into this area. And I look forward to being able to facilitate that process,” as reported by Florida Politics.
The proposal is not without its political undertones. Earlier this year, DeSantis signed a bill preempting local governments from blocking presidential library developments, a move widely interpreted as an effort to sidestep opposition from liberal-leaning counties or municipalities. The governor has also taken jabs at New York City—Trump’s original home—claiming the city missed a historic opportunity due to political and legal conflicts. “He was Queens, real estate, ‘The Apprentice,’ all this stuff. And he’s not doing his presidential library in New York City or anywhere in New York state. And I think that’s a testament to how he was treated by New York City with the Attorney General trying to take his money and the bogus prosecution,” DeSantis asserted.
The process of approving the land transfer has moved at a breakneck pace. According to the Miami Herald, the Miami Dade College Board of Trustees approved the transfer during a swift, lightly publicized meeting, with little opportunity for community input. Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier quickly announced that the state would dedicate the property to Trump’s library, calling it “the greatest political comeback story in history” in a video posted to social media. “Florida will be blessed to house the presidential library for one of our own state presidents and to be a part of preserving such meaningful history,” Uthmeier said.
Supporters of the project, particularly among Miami’s Cuban American community, see the library as a point of pride. Robert Alonso, vice chairman of the Miami Dade College board, told CBS News, “How many communities can say that they get to have a presidential library? I think it means a lot to this community that we will be able to host a presidential library here in downtown Miami.” The Trump Presidential Library Foundation reportedly has more than $53 million in committed donations, including settlements from high-profile defamation lawsuits, as noted by the Miami Herald.
Yet, the decision to locate Trump’s library next to the Freedom Tower has sparked intense debate and, for some, deep discomfort. The Freedom Tower is more than just a building; it is “sacred ground—the Ellis Island of the Cuban diaspora,” as one Miami Herald editorial put it. Its halls have welcomed hundreds of thousands of people escaping dictatorship and seeking a new life in America. The symbolism is not lost on critics, who see a stark contradiction in honoring a president whose administration pursued aggressive deportation policies—including the removal of Cubans and those with Temporary Protected Status—on the very site that once offered hope and refuge.
The controversy is further fueled by Trump’s contentious relationship with the press. The Freedom Tower’s past as the home of the Miami Daily News, a beacon of journalism, stands in sharp relief against Trump’s frequent attacks on the media, which he has branded as “enemies of the people.” For some, the proximity of the library to this symbol of free expression is an uncomfortable irony.
Transparency, or the lack thereof, has also become a flashpoint. Critics argue that the rapid pace of the land transfer and the absence of open public debate undermine the democratic process, especially given the high value and significance of the property. As the Miami Herald editorialized, “No matter where you fall politically, the state cabinet owes Miami residents a full and open discussion before approving this deal.”
Presidential libraries have long served as repositories of history, preserving the records, decisions, and legacies—warts and all—of America’s leaders. They are not meant to whitewash history, but to provide future generations with the tools to understand the past. Mary Anna Mancuso of the Miami Herald editorial board argues that Trump’s library should follow the example of the Nixon library, which, after initially glossing over the Watergate scandal, later provided a more complete and honest account under the stewardship of the National Archives. “Leave nothing to chance and let the future decide how Trump will be remembered,” she wrote.
Regardless of one’s view of Trump, the library’s presence in Miami will likely have tangible effects. Presidential libraries are known to attract visitors from across the country and the world—Ronald Reagan’s in California, Bill Clinton’s in Arkansas, George W. Bush’s in Texas, and Barack Obama’s under-construction center in Chicago have all become civic landmarks. Miami, already a global city, may see a boost in tourism and visibility as a result.
Still, the decision remains divisive, reflecting the broader polarization of American politics. Some see the library as a fitting tribute to a president who, in their view, stood up for America and delivered on his promises. Others see it as a painful juxtaposition—a celebration of a presidency marked by exclusionary policies, placed next to a monument to inclusion and hope.
As Miami awaits the Florida Cabinet’s final vote, one thing is certain: the city’s newest landmark will be more than just a building. It will be a mirror, reflecting the complexities, contradictions, and ongoing debates of the American story. For better or worse, history will be watching.
