Miami residents sue over land gifted to Trump

(CN) — Miami residents filed a lawsuit Wednesday claiming Florida’s gift of an immensely valuable land parcel to President Donald Trump for development is constitutionally unlawful.

In the complaint, the residents ask a Florida federal court to void the transaction, arguing that it violated the domestic emoluments clause of the Constitution.

“To ensure that presidents do not put their personal interests above those of the nation, and that no state gains an unfair advantage over federal policy through gifts to the chief executive, the domestic emoluments clause prohibits Florida and other states from giving financial benefits to the president,” the plaintiffs wrote.

The clause specifies that presidents may only be compensated with a fixed salary and nothing else during their time in office.

The approximately 2.63-acre plot of land in downtown Miami was originally owned by the Miami Dade College. But in December 2025, despite significant public opposition, the college board voted unanimously to convey the land to the Florida Board to gift to the Trump Library Foundation.

While the land was intended for the construction of a presidential library of digitized records owned, controlled, and administered by the National Archives and Records Administration, the plaintiffs claim it has become clear that the president has other plans in mind that would financially enrich him.

They argue Florida gifted the land “free from any waiver, encumbrance or restriction except for the requirement that the subject parcel contains components of a presidential library, museum and/or center within five years of conveyance."

But in March, Trump told reporters, “I don’t believe in building libraries or museums.” Instead, he said the building is “most likely going to be a hotel with a beautiful building underneath and a 747 Air Force One in the lobby.”

His statements were in response to questions about proposed site plans disclosed by two Trump allies in December discussing a 47-story tower, a nod to Trump’s tenure as the 47th president.

Soon after the land was conveyed, Trump’s son Eric announced in a statement that the structure built on the site will be “visible for miles into the Atlantic, a bold landmark on Miami’s skyline.”

According to The Wall Street Journal, Trump’s family members and associates “were looking for a parcel big enough to include a hotel development and near a major airport to attract the thousands of tourists who flock to presidential libraries."

“These statements, individually and collectively, make clear that President Trump intends to monetize this skyscraper, generating significant profit for himself and his family,” the residents wrote in their complaint.

They argue these profits are enhanced by the fact that the president acquired the valuable land from the state for free and without any of the typical restrictions attached to this sort of transaction, such as height limitations or parking requirements.

This is because Florida passed legislation intended to clear the way for Trump’s development by prohibiting any county or municipal government from enforcing regulations that would apply to other buildings on the presidential library.

“With its waterfront views and central location in bustling downtown Miami, the MDC Parcel would likely sell for over $300 million on the open market, according to local real estate experts. But President Trump paid nothing for it,” the residents wrote.

Additionally, online records from the Miami-Dade County Property Appraiser’s website indicate the Trump Library Foundation was registered as a nonprofit corporation, allowing it to qualify for a tax exemption and avoid paying over a million dollars in potential annual property taxes.

Although ownership of the land was conveyed to the Trump Library Foundation and not to the president directly, the residents argue that it is governed exclusively by Trump’s family members and close allies, who serve as its three trustees.

They highlighted an ongoing investigation into the dissolvement of the Trump Library Fund nonprofit and the disappearance of $63 million in funds meant for the creation of a presidential library and museum. At least $15 million of those funds came from a settlement agreement with ABC News to resolve Trump’s defamation lawsuit.

Downtown Miami residents Kristen Browde and Gregory van den Dries, who live just blocks away from the parcel, claim the planned high-rise hotel on the property will compromise their views and the living conditions in their neighborhoods.

Sistrunk Seeds Inc., a nonprofit that operates Dunn’s Overtown Farm in Miami, claims it was in discussions with Miami Dade College to use the site to operate an urban farm before the land conveyance.

Miami Dade College student Carmen Salcedo argues she would have personally benefited from the farm and that the state-operated college should be serving the interests of students’ education, rather than lining Trump’s pockets.

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