A video animation revealing the design for the Donald J. Trump Presidential Library and Museum shows a towering skyscraper with prominent Trump branding dominating the Miami waterfront skyline. The rendering, posted by President Trump on his Truth Social account, depicts the library completely dwarfing the iconic Freedom Tower next door on land donated by Miami Dade College.
“Over the past six months, I have poured my heart and soul into this project with my incredible team,” Eric Trump posted on social media. “This landmark on the water in Miami, Florida will stand as a lasting testament to an…” The design shows what appears to be an especially large condominium-style building with massive Trump lettering.
“One of the biggest landmarks our county and our state has, which is gonna be this new presidential library that I think people from all over the world, or the country, are gonna come visit now,” said Republican state Rep. Juan Carlos Porras of Kendall. Porras voted for the bill allowing Miami Dade College to donate the valuable waterfront property to the Trump Library Foundation.
The proposed library site has generated significant controversy, particularly regarding the land donation valued at more than $60 million. Retired Florida International University professor Dr. Marvin Dunn led an unsuccessful effort to block the college from giving away the prime real estate without compensation. “I think that design is gross,” Dunn said. “It is an obstruction to the beauty of our skyline, and it is nothing more than a monument to Trump and his family.”
“I thought that it was wrong that Miami Dade College got nothing back for this very, very valuable land,” Dunn said. Miami Dade College officials maintain that the Trump Library will provide educational value to students, but critics question the arrangement’s fairness. The college’s decision to donate the appraised $60 million lot has drawn scrutiny from those who believe the institution should have received compensation.
“I think that’s a joke, don’t fall for that. What will Miami-Dade College get out of this, a couple of internships for students? This is absolutely a travesty,” Dunn replied when asked about the college’s justification. The professor’s opposition highlights ongoing debates about public institutions donating valuable assets to private foundations, even for presidential libraries.
The library’s design and location next to Miami’s historic Freedom Tower creates a stark architectural contrast in the downtown skyline. The Freedom Tower, a designated National Historic Landmark, served as a processing center for Cuban refugees in the 1960s and stands as a symbol of Miami’s immigrant heritage. The proposed Trump library would tower over this historic structure according to the animation.
“I think for the most part, people are proud of our president, and they’re going to be proud,” Porras said, defending the project despite criticism about its scale and design. The state representative from Kendall represents the political support the library has received from Florida Republicans who view it as an economic and tourism asset for Miami-Dade County.
The Trump Library Foundation has not announced a construction timeline or opening date for the presidential library and museum. The project awaits further approvals and fundraising before breaking ground on the controversial Miami waterfront site.