MIAMI — Florida International University unveiled a statue of former President Ronald Reagan on Friday, marking what would have been his 115th birthday.

FIU President Jeanette Nuñez said Reagan represents a period defined by the struggle for freedom and the courage to fight for it.

The statue, created by Cuban American artist Carlos Enrique Prado, was installed outside FIU’s Ronald Reagan Presidential House.

Many Cuban Americans and elected officials attended the ceremony, applauding Reagan’s anti-communism legacy.

Gov. Ron DeSantis, speaking at the event, discussed Reagan’s connection to Miami and South Florida’s Cuban-American community.

“So why do it in Miami? Well, there was nobody at that time who was stronger against communism than Ronald Reagan,” DeSantis said.

He also pointed to the region’s ties to Cuba.

“The wounds were still fresh from the Castro takeover of Cuba and all the destruction that they brought,” DeSantis said. “Reagan was very strong against communism. He built up our military (and) stared down the Soviets. But he also had a way of showing just how absurd communism was.”

Nuñez said the statue represents more than Reagan’s presidency.

“I hope that this statue will commemorate more than just a presidency. It will honor a moment in time,” she said. “A moment in time that symbolized courage, conviction, faith, freedom, and it helped bend history towards liberty.”

University leaders also announced plans to break ground on a new building called “CasaCuba,” located across the street from the presidential house.

According to the school’s website, CasaCuba “brings together history, art, and innovation to celebrate the vibrant contributions of the Cuban community in the U.S. and beyond.”

DeSantis also stated that the new Reagan statue is part of a broader effort to bring monuments honoring American history to communities across Florida, noting that a statue of President James Monroe is planned for the Florida Keys.

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