A recent rendering of President Donald Trump's proposed presidential library in Miami has ignited strong reactions from political observers and design experts. The design, shared in a video by Eric Trump, depicts a towering, gold-accented skyscraper with an unmistakably opulent feel. Key features include a golden escalator, a replica of Air Force One, plans for a White House ballroom replica, large screens broadcasting Trump's face, and at least two oversized golden statues of the president. Notably absent from the “library” are books.
Focus on Revenue, Not Records
Rather than documents, exhibits, or research facilities, the Donald J. Trump Presidential Library appears to prioritize private revenue streams. The rendering highlights the building's use as a glitzy event venue, and Trump recently expressed intentions to include a hotel in the tower. “Could be office, but it’s most likely gonna be a hotel with a beautiful building underneath,” he told reporters.
Comparisons to Authoritarian Monuments
The design has sparked comparisons online to Biff Tannen’s Pleasure Paradise in “Back to the Future Part II” and North Korean monuments. Architecture writer Catherine Slessor described it in The Guardian as a “gaudy, self-glorifying monstrosity.” Beyond memes, the proposal raises substantive questions about the purpose of a presidential library.
Expert Reactions
K. Heather Brakefield, owner of KHB Architecture Studios, called the design “completely absurd.” She noted, “A presidential library is supposed to preserve records, provide public access to history, and help people understand a presidency in context. This concept looks much more like a monument to personal mythology than a serious civic institution.” She sees symbolism for wealth, spectacle, and self-celebration, adding, “It turns the idea of a presidential library into a stage set centered on Trump himself.”
Interior designer Annie Elliott remarked, “If you didn’t tell me this was a presidential library, I would have thought it was an outpost of the National Air and Space Museum. The life-sized replica of Air Force One is the perfect symbol for this presidency. Trump values shiny things and shortcuts, not history or education.” She concluded, “The gigantic, gold statue of Trump screams ‘triumphant dictator.’”
Andrew Shoukry, an interior designer, said the design “leans heavily into visibility and dominance, which aligns with a broader aesthetic language that prioritizes attention over restraint or timelessness.” Architect Thomas Wells Schaller emphasized that a presidential library should serve the public, but this design “seems to look inward — toward mere commercial and corporate interest.”
Aaron D. Murphy of ADM Architecture noted, “The move toward scale, gold detailing and spectacle doesn’t appear to be grounded in Miami’s context or civic identity. It’s trying to dominate the conversation.” Sarah Boardman, an interior designer, added, “Miami is defined by diversity, cultural layering, color and a strong relationship between public life and space. The rendering doesn’t engage with that context.”
Architect Jorge Salgado, a Miami native, expressed ambivalence: “Do I care? Kind of, in so far as it impacts my hometown. The scale and some of the stylistic choices raise questions. Tacky, perhaps.” He warned that sidelining professional expertise can have real consequences: “When consequential decisions about civic buildings are made without serious professional engagement, the results tend to reflect that.”
Aesthetic and Purpose
The design’s ’80s glam aesthetic, with high-gloss finishes and gold accents, resists contemporary trends toward sustainability and material innovation. Boardman noted, “Even highly luxurious spaces today often integrate those priorities. This stays rooted in a very specific visual language.” Shoukry echoed that the design feels “out of step with where design is heading culturally.”
Ultimately, the real debate is about purpose. Schaller concluded, “America has not always lived up to its ideals, but in the design of our public buildings, we have the unique opportunity to memorialize our intention to strive. When such buildings proceed with input from historians and design professionals, we can leave behind a truly worthwhile legacy.”
