A Florida judge has temporarily blocked the transfer of a prime piece of downtown Miami real estate intended for Donald Trump’s future presidential library, following a lawsuit that accused local officials of violating open government laws. The ruling, issued Tuesday by Circuit Judge Mavel Ruiz, came after activist Marvin Dunn argued that the Miami Dade College Board of Trustees failed to properly notify the public before voting to give away the land.
“This is not an easy decision,” Judge Ruiz said from the bench. “This is not a case, at least for this court, rooted in politics.” The decision halts the land transfer until the court can determine whether Florida’s Government in the Sunshine Law — which requires public bodies to conduct their meetings transparently — was breached.
At the heart of the dispute is nearly three acres (1.2 hectares) of undeveloped property on Biscayne Boulevard, one of the city’s most sought-after commercial corridors. Valued at more than $67 million according to a 2025 county assessment, the parcel is considered one of the last major open sites in downtown Miami. Real estate experts estimate that it could sell for hundreds of millions of dollars due to its prime location near the waterfront.
The controversy began after the Miami Dade College board voted on September 23 to relinquish the property. Just a week later, Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet approved the transfer of ownership to the Trump Presidential Library Foundation, effectively granting control of the land to the Trump family.
The foundation’s leadership includes Eric Trump, Michael Boulos (husband of Tiffany Trump), and James Kiley, one of the former president’s attorneys. The court’s injunction now pauses any movement or development on the property until the legal challenge is resolved.