Residents of the city of Miami have filed a lawsuit seeking to halt construction of Donald Trump’s presidential library on a prime waterfront site in the city center, NBC News reports.

The plaintiffs claim that officials in the U.S. state of Florida unlawfully transferred to Trump a nearly 1.2-hectare plot worth more than $67 million next to the historic Freedom Tower.

In their view, this violates the U.S. Constitution’s Domestic Emoluments Clause, which prohibits a sitting president from receiving gifts and benefits from states beyond the established salary.

The defendants named in the lawsuit include Trump himself, his presidential library foundation, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Miami Dade College, and a number of public officials.

According to the plaintiffs, the land transfer could encourage other states to grant the president similar benefits in hopes of favorable decisions on federal policy issues, including disaster aid, tariffs, and offshore resource development.

Trump chose the site last year after reaching an agreement with the authorities of Florida and Miami Dade College. He did not have to purchase the land.

In March, the president posted a video on the social network Truth Social showing a design for a glass skyscraper with the gold Trump name on the facade.

According to him, the complex could include not only a library but also a hotel, which would make it the first U.S. presidential library with a hotel.

A White House spokesperson said the future library would become “one of the most magnificent buildings in the world” and a monument to Trump’s impact on the country’s history.

The plaintiffs believe the project is commercial in nature and could generate significant profits for Trump himself and his family. The court must decide whether the transfer of the plot violates constitutional restrictions on a sitting president.

Source: https://news.am/en/news/1035476