A judge in Miami has thrown out a legal complaint that sought to block the transfer of a multi-million-pound parcel of city-centre land for the construction of a future presidential library for Donald Trump.
Legal Challenge Over Public Notice Dismissed
The lawsuit was brought by local activist and retired professor Marvin Dunn, who argued that Miami Dade College's board violated Florida's open government laws. He claimed the board failed to give sufficient public notice before its initial vote in September to gift the nearly 3-acre (1.2-hectare) property.
Circuit Judge Mavel Ruiz had initially sided with Dunn, issuing a temporary block on the land transfer in October and scheduling a trial for August next year. However, the situation changed after the college's board held a second, lengthy public meeting earlier this month to redo the vote.
On Thursday, 18 December 2025, Judge Ruiz ruled in favour of the college, dismissing Dunn's complaint without prejudice. The college's attorneys maintained the board did not break the law but argued any alleged violation was "fully cured" by the re-vote.
A Prime Piece of Real Estate
The contested site is one of the last undeveloped lots on Biscayne Boulevard, a palm tree-lined thoroughfare in downtown Miami. According to a 2025 assessment by the Miami-Dade County property appraiser, the land is valued at more than $67 million.
Real estate experts suggest its market value could be far higher, with one describing it as a potential "cash cow" and a developer's dream ideally suited for a towering condominium under local zoning rules.
Path Cleared for Trump Monument
The college's original vote transferred the property to a fund controlled by Florida's Republican Governor Ron DeSantis and the state cabinet. Those officials then voted to deed the land to the foundation established for Trump's library.
That foundation is led by three trustees: Eric Trump, Michael Boulos (husband of Tiffany Trump), and the former president's attorney, James Kiley. Eric Trump has promised the library will be "one of the most beautiful buildings ever built" and an iconic feature of the Miami skyline.
With the legal challenge now dismissed, the path is clear for the real estate developer-turned-president to erect a monumental tribute to his political career on this coveted piece of Florida coastline.
