President Trump said Monday he’ll award Rudy Giuliani a Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor.
The big picture: The announcement comes two days after the former Trump lawyer and New York City mayor was involved in a car crash that left him hospitalized injuries including a fractured vertebra.
- His son Andrew Giuliani said on WABC 770 AM that his father was released from the hospital on Monday, noting “he’s in a lot of pain” but “he’s walking, thank God.”
Driving the news: Trump called Giuliani “the greatest Mayor in the history of New York City, and an equally great American Patriot” in announcing his medal plans on Truth Social.
What they’re saying: “There is no American more deserving of this honor,” Giuliani spokesperson said Ted Goodman in a post to X on Monday.
- “Mayor Rudy Giuliani took down the Mafia, saved New York City, comforted the nation following 9/11, and served in countless other ways to improve the lives of others,” added Goodman, who was also injured after the car he was driving the former mayor in was struck from behind in New Hampshire on Saturday.
- “Thank you, President Trump, for honoring his life and legacy.”
- Andrew Giuliani on WABC 770 AM’s “Cats & Cosby” radio show described Trump’s announcement as “kind of overwhelming considering that, you know, just two days ago … I was concerned whether or not he’d, we’d,still have him with us or not.”
State of play: Giuliani became known as “America’s Mayor” in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
- He ran for president in 2008, became an adviser to Trump during the 2016 presidential election and joined the president’s legal team in 2018.
- Although he’s since left, Giuliani has remained a staunch ally and supporter of Trump.
Zoom in: Giuliani has in recent years faced a series of legal and financial issues that include filing for bankruptcy in 2023.
- He was criminally charged in Georgia and Arizona in connection with allegations that he tried to help overturn the 2020 election results. He denies any wrongdoing and has pleaded not guilty in both cases.
- Giuliani was later disbarred in Washington, D.C.and NYC and was sued by two Georgia election workers in a defamation case that was settled in January.
Editor’s note: This article has been updated with comment from Andrew Giuliani.
