On Monday, President Donald Trump posted a short video to Truth Social unveiling a rendering of his planned Donald J. Trump Presidential Library in downtown Miami.
The video shows a 47-story tower emblazoned with Trump across the top, a red-white-and-blue spire, and an American flag at its center. The promo also shows a gold entranceway and escalator, naturally, as well as models of Air Force One and several military aircraft. It also depicts a 20-foot-tall golden statue of Trump, as well as a replica of the Oval Office, the latter of which is common in presidential libraries.
In a post on X also featuring the video, the president’s son and executive vice president of the Trump Organization, Eric Trump, said, “Over the past six months, I have poured my heart and soul into this project with my incredible team at [the Trump Organization]. This landmark on the water in Miami, Florida will stand as a lasting testament to an amazing man, an amazing developer, and the greatest President our Nation has ever known.”
How much of what is in the video will actually be a part of the forthcoming library is unclear: the Washington Post reported that the video was made at least partially using generative AI, and the Trump Organization did not respond to questions about the library.
The Library is being designed by Bermello Ajamil, a Florida-based architecture firm. In December, Politico reported that the proposed Trump library would include a hotel, rooftop restaurant, office space, and 47 stories, in reference to Trump’s term as the 47th president. The Air Force One plane shown in the video would likely be the $400 million Boeing 747 gifted by Qatar to the president.
Peter Zalewski, a Miami condo analyst, told Politico that the land earmarked for the library is highly desirable due to its downtown location and zoning; he estimated that it is worth $360 million.
As for how much this will all cost to build, the Miami Herald reported last fall that Trump’s library foundation is aiming to raise nearly $1 billion in donations, according to the foundation’s IRS application for tax-exempt status. The foundation raised $50 million last year, with plans to raise $300 million this year, and $600 million in 2027. Most of the money raised last year, according to the Herald, came from legal settlements with major companies, including ABC, Paramount, and Meta.
Meanwhile, President Barack Obama’s presidential library in Chicago is nearing its grand opening this June. It is set to feature commissions from 10 different artists, across its 19.3-acre campus, including Nick Cave, Marie Watt, Maya Lin, Julie Mehretu, and others.
No word yet on whether Trump plans to commission any artists for his edifice, but perhaps Christian “worship” speed-painter Vanessa Horabeuna is available?
