A group of Miami residents, a nonprofit organization, and a Miami Dade College student have filed a lawsuit against Donald Trump, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, and Miami Dade College over the transfer of public land for a proposed Trump Presidential Library. The lawsuit alleges the donation violates the Constitution’s domestic emoluments clause, which prohibits states from providing financial benefits to a sitting president.
The plaintiffs argue that 2.63 acres of prime waterfront land in downtown Miami, previously owned by Miami Dade College, was illegally gifted to the Trump Presidential Library Foundation. The land, valued at "hundreds of millions of dollars," could be used for personal gain, including a luxury hotel or office tower, according to comments from Trump and his son, Eric Trump. The lawsuit claims the arrangement undermines the emoluments clause, which was designed to prevent presidents from prioritizing personal interests over national ones.
The legal filing also highlights that the land transfer was facilitated by DeSantis-appointed trustees of Miami Dade College, raising questions about the process. The lawsuit argues that the land, now unavailable for public use, will instead benefit Trump financially. The project, unveiled in March, includes plans for a 50-story tower and a golden statue of Trump in its lobby, along with his Boeing 747 jet, which was gifted to him by Qatar.
The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida by the Constitutional Accountability Center on behalf of the plaintiffs. The case is the second legal challenge related to the library, following an earlier lawsuit alleging improper actions by the college trustees.