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A Florida judge has intervened to temporarily halt the transfer of a site designated for President Donald Trump’s future presidential library. This decision follows a lawsuit from a local historian and activist who is a registered Democrat and had previously sought election for a congressional seat.
Circuit Judge Mavel Ruiz issued a temporary injunction on Tuesday, preventing the transfer of the prime downtown Miami site to the Trump Presidential Library Foundation. The judge concluded that Miami Dade College’s board failed to provide reasonable public notice before voting on the site transfer.
Ruiz emphasized that her ruling was based solely on procedural grounds, not political motivations. During her explanation from the bench, she stated, “This is not an easy decision” while highlighting the lack of adequate public notice prior to last month’s vote.
She reiterated, “This is not a case, at least for this court, rooted in politics,” as reported by The Associated Press. Ruiz, who was last re-elected in 2020, is not appointed through the same process as federal judges.
In a recent decision, Republican Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet voted to donate a 2.63-acre parcel on Biscayne Boulevard for the construction of the Trump Presidential Library.
The proposed Miami site, presently utilized as a parking lot for Miami Dade College’s Wolfson Campus, is situated adjacent to the historic Freedom Tower. This tower has historical significance as a resource center for hundreds of thousands of Cubans who fled communism in the 1960s and 1970s, seeking asylum in the United States.
Marvin Dunn, a retired professor from Florida International University, aims to prevent the property transfer. Dunn argues that the move would breach Florida law and undermine public trust by repurposing educational property for private, political objectives.
According to the lawsuit, “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.” Dunn insists that the proposed conveyance would misallocate land held in trust for educational purposes.
Dunn has a notable background, having served as a naval officer and previously attempted to run for a Florida House seat in 2018. He withdrew his candidacy before the Democratic primary, citing Trump’s slow response to the deaths of four American soldiers in Niger, claiming that the U.S. has become an uncivilized society under Trump’s administration, as noted by the Miami Herald.
Recently, Dunn led a protest against the planned site transfer and is currently listed as a registered Democrat in Miami-Dade County.
The lawsuit additionally contends that the process for the transfer lacked sufficient public notice or input, potentially infringing on Florida’s Sunshine Law. This law mandates open meetings for public boards to ensure transparency.
Jesus Suarez, an attorney representing the college, defended the board’s actions, asserting they met all required legal obligations. He also questioned Dunn’s motivations for launching the lawsuit.
“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,” Suarez conveyed to The Associated Press.
The agenda for the college board’s September 23 meeting included only a vague note indicating that trustees would discuss transferring property to a state trust fund overseen by DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet. There was no detailed explanation regarding the parcel being considered for transfer or the rationale behind the decision. Notably, the early-morning session at 8 a.m. was not broadcast online, differing from all other board meetings held that year.
Approximately a week later, DeSantis along with other Republican officials voted to advance the property transfer—ultimately awarding control of the downtown Miami site to the Donald J. Trump Presidential Library Foundation, a nonprofit closely associated with Trump’s family.
Trump’s son, Eric, who is also the president and one of three trustees of the foundation, previously remarked that the library will stand as “one of the most beautiful buildings ever built” and will celebrate his father’s legacy. He indicated it would differ significantly from the Barack Obama Presidential Center, which has been developing gradually in Chicago.
The Miami site, set against a backdrop of luxury high-rise residences, boasts scenic waterfront views facing the Kaseya Center, home of the NBA’s Miami Heat, as well as Dodge Island, a docking location for many of the world’s largest cruise liners.
This parcel is appraised at over $66 million according to recent media reports. However, experts suggest it could potentially sell for upwards of $360 million, as noted by The New York Times.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
