Eric Trump reveals first presidential library renderings
Eric Trump shares first renderings of his father’s presidential library and museum planned for downtown Miami along Biscayne Boulevard.
President Donald Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis were accused in a May 13 lawsuit of violating the Constitution through a gift to a Trump-affiliated presidential library foundation of high-value Miami real estate where Trump says he wants to build a hotel.
DeSantis and other Florida officials voted to donate the land so the foundation can build a presidential library there in Trump’s name. But the terms of the donation only require the land to contain “components of a Presidential library, museum, and/or center,” according to the lawsuit, and Trump has said “it’s most likely going to be a hotel with a beautiful building underneath.”
The U.S. Constitution says that, outside of the president’s salary, the president can’t receive during his presidential term “any other Emolument” from Congress or state governments. An “emolument” is a benefit that arises from employment or from being in office, according to Merriam-Webster.
“Flouting this prohibition, Florida officials have given the President a piece of state-owned property worth hundreds of millions of dollars,” according to the lawsuit.
The lawsuit cites a New York Times story in which a real estate consultant who tracks local trends in the Miami condo market, Peter Zalewski, estimated the property could sell for at least $360 million. The Miami-Dade County property appraiser valued the land at more than $67 million, according to that story.
“Importantly, the Florida Board’s conveyance does not restrict President Trump or the Trump Library Foundation from developing a for-profit commercial or residential property—such as a hotel—on the MDC Parcel,” the lawsuit, which was brought by a Miami nonprofit and multiple Miami residents, states.
The U.S. Justice Department and Florida governor’s office didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment. The White House referred USA TODAY to the library foundation, which also didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
In alleging Trump plans to personally profit from the gift, the lawsuit points not only to statements from Trump about a planned hotel, but also to a video rendering Trump shared of the proposed skyscraper that includes “TRUMP” lettering “identical to The Trump Organization’s logo and the signage used on Trump hotel properties across the world.”
The lawsuit also notes a social media post in which Trump’s son, Eric, said he worked with a team at The Trump Organization on “The Donald J. Trump Presidential Library,” sharing the video of the skyscraper. The lawsuit notes that the president owns The Trump Organization, which includes many of his for-profit businesses.
“These statements, individually and collectively, make clear that President Trump intends to monetize this skyscraper, generating significant profit for himself and his family,” according to the lawsuit.
