Trump’s presidential library in Miami should tell the full story — not the highlight reel | Opinion
Florida, Miami specifically, is one step closer to having its first — and only — presidential library. On Monday the Miami Dade College Board of Trustees unanimously voted for a land transfer of a parking lot next to the Freedom Tower. The following day, Gov. Ron DeSantis unveiled a plan to dedicate land in South Florida for the site of President Donald Trump’s future presidential library.
In a promotional video posted on X, Attorney General James Uthmeier said, “Florida will be blessed to house the presidential library for one of our own state presidents and to be a part of preserving such meaningful history.” And he’s right. Presidential libraries are a big deal for the communities they’re built in.
Regardless of how you feel about Trump, presidential libraries are a staple of American history and serve as a snapshot in time during that presidency. I’ve visited six presidential libraries — four Republican and two Democrat — and they’ve all told a story of what America has endured and the tough decisions made by the president at that time.
Not everyone shares my love of presidential libraries — and some aren’t looking forward to Trump’s library in Miami. I get it. His terms in office, especially the current one, have been marked by mass deportations and weaponizing the Department of Justice to target his political enemies. His presidency has continued to divide the nation, and led to questions about presidential power.
But at their core, presidential libraries are about preservation of the past, providing future generations the ability to look back, learn and understand the complexities of leadership in America.
Presidential libraries are not just for popular presidents like Dwight D. Eisenhower and Ronald Reagan, nor are they meant to whitewash presidential mistakes. They’re archives of accountability and invite Americans to confront our past honestly.
Former President Richard Nixon’s library is a prime example. Nixon has long been one of America’s most controversial presidents who resigned amid the Watergate scandal. But his presidential library in Yorba Linda, California, tells a broader story. It goes beyond the scandal, documenting some of his notable accomplishments such as opening the United States to China, his environmental initiatives and the ending of the Vietnam War.
Importantly, though, it also includes a complete picture of Watergate. It wasn’t always that way: When the library originally opened in 1990, it claimed Nixon was ousted by his enemies in a coup, and the “smoking gun” Watergate tape was heavily edited. In 2007, the National Archives took over from a group of Nixon loyalists and a much more complete — and honest — picture emerged.
The truth is, presidential libraries aren’t for the people those of us living in current times — they’re a record for generations that come after us, a way for people to see how far our country has come, the struggles we’ve shared and the tests democracy has undergone.
History often isn’t pretty. But the record should reflect the truth. As the saying by Spanish philosopher George Santayana goes, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”
Trump’s library will no doubt have the ability to preserve a wide perspective. It’s unclear what would be included or how his two presidencies will be showcased, but if I were asked, I would encourage him take a page from the Nixon library — share it all. Leave nothing to chance and let the future decide how Trump will be remembered.
The proposed location is another divisive factor — a parking lot across the street from the Freedom Tower, a famous building that once housed a local newspaper and then became a welcome center for Cuban exiles. Some Republicans see this as fitting: Trump is a president who stands up for America. But others, including me, see the irony: A president who is working overtime to shut down the borders and curtail free speech will be honored across the street from the Freedom Tower.
Location aside, Florida is uniquely positioned to host one of the most consequential chapters in recent history — right in our backyard. That’s important because presidential libraries aren’t just about the presidents. They’re about preservation and the American people, choosing to remember even the most unprecedented times — and learning from them.
Mary Anna Mancuso is a member of McClatchy’s Miami Herald Editorial Board. Her email: mmancuso@miamiherald.com
This story was originally published September 25, 2025 at 1:37 PM.