President Donald Trump, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, and others were hit with a lawsuit Wednesday over the transfer of Miami land tied to Trump's future presidential library. The plaintiffs argue the deal violates the U.S. Constitution's Domestic Emoluments Clause, which prevents sitting presidents from receiving additional financial benefits from states beyond their official salary.
The lawsuit, announced jointly by the Constitutional Accountability Center and Miami law firm Gelber Schachter & Greenberg, claims Florida handed over state-owned land worth more than $300 million to The Donald J. Trump Presidential Library Foundation. The foundation plans to develop Trump's presidential library on the site.
"The state gave, and President Trump accepted, a piece of state-owned land in Miami worth over $300 million dollars for development of a presidential library," said Miriam Becker-Cohen, senior appellate counsel at the Constitutional Accountability Center, in a press release. The lawsuit further alleges Trump intends to monetize the property for "immense personal financial gain."
The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Library Plans Drew Earlier Scrutiny
The Miami waterfront project has been under growing scrutiny in recent months. In March, Eric Trump unveiled renderings of the proposed complex, describing it as a "lasting testament" to his father after six months of development. The plans include a large luxury tower and entertainment complex, and Trump has suggested parts could function as a hotel or commercial property—drawing criticism from ethics watchdogs and local residents.
Earlier this year, Senator Elizabeth Warren questioned the handling of up to $63 million pledged to Trump's library by major companies, including Meta Platforms Inc. (META), ABC News (a unit of Walt Disney Co (DIS)), and Paramount Skydance (PSKY). Warren noted that the original nonprofit managing the donations was dissolved, leaving questions about where the money went.
The lawsuit also comes as the Trump Organization continues expanding global real estate projects. This week, Eric Trump shared renderings of Trump Tower Tbilisi, a planned 70-story luxury development in Georgia. Watchdog groups say such projects add to concerns about conflicts of interest tied to Trump-branded ventures during his presidency.
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