Donald Trump had a major victory planned for his home state.
But a Florida judge just pulled the rug out from under him.
And a judge threw a wrench into Donald Trump’s presidential library plans that had Democrats grinning from ear to ear.
Florida judge blocks Trump’s Miami library land transfer
Circuit Judge Mavel Ruiz temporarily blocked the transfer of prime downtown Miami real estate earmarked for President Donald Trump’s future presidential library.
The nearly 3-acre parcel sits on Biscayne Boulevard and carries a stunning price tag.
The Miami-Dade County property appraiser valued the land at more than $67 million in 2025.
Real estate experts believe the property – one of the last undeveloped lots on the iconic palm tree-lined stretch – could fetch hundreds of millions more on the open market.
Miami activist Marvin Dunn filed a lawsuit this month against Miami Dade College’s Board of Trustees over the land transfer.
Dunn alleged the state-run school violated Florida’s Government in the Sunshine law by failing to provide adequate notice before its September 23 special meeting.
The board voted at that meeting to hand over the valuable property to the state.
A week later, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and the state Cabinet transferred the land to the foundation controlling Trump’s planned presidential library.
https://twitter.com/barrycunningham/status/1978271040443711584
Trump family controls library foundation as legal battle unfolds
The foundation managing the future library operates under the leadership of three trustees.
Eric Trump serves on the board alongside Tiffany Trump’s husband Michael Boulos and President Trump’s attorney James Kiley.
Judge Ruiz stressed the non-political nature of her Tuesday ruling from the bench.
"This is not a case, at least for this court, rooted in politics," Ruiz stated.¹
Richard Brodsky represents Dunn in the legal challenge.
The attorney argued the case centers on government transparency rather than partisan politics.
"The people have a right to know what they’re going to decide to do when the transaction is so significant, so unusual and deprives the students and the college of this land," Brodsky explained.²
Democrats celebrate roadblock to Trump’s legacy project
The temporary injunction represents a significant obstacle for Trump’s plans to build his presidential library in his home state.
Presidential libraries serve as monuments to a president’s time in office and house important historical documents.
Trump wants his library sitting alongside the facilities for every other president who came before him.
But here’s what stinks about this whole deal.
The college board held a special meeting at 8 a.m. on September 23 to vote on handing over $67 million in property.
The agenda didn’t even say which property they were voting on or why.
Unlike every other board meeting that year, they didn’t livestream it.
A week later, DeSantis and the Cabinet quietly transferred the land to a foundation controlled by Trump’s kids and his personal attorney.
That’s tens of millions in taxpayer-owned real estate changing hands with practically zero public notice.
The college students who park there every day had no idea their parking lot was about to become a presidential library.
Miami residents who might’ve had something to say about giving away prime Biscayne Boulevard property never got the chance.
Florida’s Sunshine Law exists for exactly this reason – to stop officials from cutting deals behind closed doors with public assets.
When the board won’t even tell you which property they’re voting on until after the vote happens, something’s seriously wrong.
Now the courts get to sort out whether officials followed the rules or just did whatever they wanted with property that belongs to the public.
This fight isn’t ending anytime soon.
¹ Judge Mavel Ruiz, Circuit Court ruling statement, October 15, 2025, as reported by NBC News and multiple sources.
² Richard Brodsky, attorney statement in court proceedings, October 15, 2025, as reported by WESH and The Associated Press.
