Trump presidential library planned for Miami earns developer support

South Florida developer Gil Deser, who has partnered with former President Donald Trump on several luxury real estate projects, says it’s no surprise Trump chose Florida for his presidential library — and he believes Miami is “ready” to bear the weight of that legacy.

“How great is it that we have here? Of all the different cities and states he could have chosen, I mean Florida has shown him so much love and he’s showing it to us directly,” Deiser told Fox News Digital. “So we’re very proud to have him here in Florida, in Miami.”

Earlier this month, officials in Florida approved plans to build the Trump Presidential Library on a prime plot of land in downtown Miami, next to the city’s iconic Freedom Tower.

Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican, and the Florida government voted to transfer a 2.63-acre parcel on Biscayne Boulevard to the Trump Presidential Library Foundation, on the condition that construction begin within five years — roughly a year after the president ends his second term.

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Trump has long maintained a presence in nearby Palm Beach and made history in Miami-Dade County during the 2024 presidential election, winning by 13 points — the first Republican to do so since 1988.

“It’s great to have its stamp in downtown Miami. And it’s great to have something of the White House here in South Florida,” said Deser — the developer behind the Porsche Design Tower, Bentley Residences, Trump Towers, Trump Royale and Trump Grande. “It will bring jobs to the area, construction, and obviously it will be a beautiful building, whereas right now … it’s just parking there.”

The Miami site is currently used as employee parking at Miami Dade College’s Wolfson Campus and is located next to the historic Freedom Tower, which served as a resource center for Cuban refugees who fled communism in the 1960s and 1970s. The century-old building is widely viewed as a symbol of the city’s vibrant immigrant heritage.

The New York Times, citing a real estate consultant, reported that the value of the parcel is estimated at more than $66 million, but it could be sold for up to $360 million.

Deser suggested that the library’s design blend Trump’s signature style with Miami’s terracotta influence to complement the Freedom Tower.

“I don’t think you want a stark difference with a new modern building there,” he noted, “but something that will be timeless and elegant, the way that [Trump] He does whatever he wants… I think incorporating things related to the history of the city is important.”

“I think a real library…the one we used to remember, where you can actually take a book and take it out with a library card, a place to read, a quiet area, I think that’s exactly what we need in the downtown area,” he added. “We had classes on the Dewey Decimal System that my kids don’t bother to learn today, because everything is online. So, getting back to ‘what a library is’ and having really important books there that kids should read is very important for Miami.”

Dezer said he doesn’t expect much planning or hurdles in the market when it comes time to get started, though he acknowledges there may be political opposition.

“It’s always the political challenges. There are always those naysayers who don’t want it,” he said. “What he showed us is that he’s a brilliant fundraiser. He raised the money to build a ballroom next to the White House, something that hadn’t been done in over a hundred years. So he showed that if anyone was going to do it, he was the guy to do it.”

“He’s going to push it and make sure he’s on time and on schedule, and he’s going to be amazing,” Dezer continued. “For most presidents, these things are a legacy. They want to be remembered for the next 200 years… It sets a right stamp.” [at the] “Dead center in Miami, which everyone will see for many years to come.”

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The Trump Presidential Library Foundation did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment on the project design or timeline.

Under the Presidential Libraries Act, these libraries are typically funded through private donations and later transferred to the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) for long-term maintenance. The Trump Organization has not yet released any official architectural renderings or budget details.

“We’ve become a world-class city in the last 10 or 15 years, and this is just an extra cherry on the cake, so to speak. And like I said, he could have chosen anywhere to go and he could have put it anywhere, but Miami is mature enough and ready enough for this type of project,” Dezer said. “So we should be very proud that Trump chose us, and he will be here forever.”

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Fox News’ Michael Dorgan contributed to this report.