A video posted on social media has unveiled ambitious plans for a 50-storey Donald J. Trump presidential library in Miami, sparking widespread ridicule. The proposed structure, decked in Trump's trademark gold, includes a giant statue of him and features a $400m Boeing 'flying palace' gifted by Qatar in its lobby.
The building would tower over the adjacent Miami Freedom Tower, a historic symbol of freedom. Eric Trump, the president's son and co-chair of the non-profit foundation behind the project, described it as 'a lasting testament to an amazing man' and 'the greatest President our Nation has ever known'.
The release coincided with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signing a law renaming Palm Beach International Airport after Trump. While some supporters praised the video, critics were swift to mock it. Gavin Newsom's press office compared the gold statue to effigies of other world leaders, and author Rutger Bregman likened it to a golden idol in a temple.
The valuable waterfront land was gifted to Eric Trump's foundation by Miami-Dade College last year after a controversial transfer that faced a legal challenge. Local historian Marvin Dunn called it a 'land giveaway'. Plans also include an amphitheatre and recreations of the Oval Office and a new ballroom at the White House.
