President Donald Trump shared some big news on Monday, revealing his plan to give a major award to former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani. Giuliani is set to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, which is the top civilian award in the United States.
This announcement comes soon after Giuliani was involved in a serious car accident in New Hampshire over the weekend.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “As President of the United States, I’m proud to announce that Rudy Giuliani, the greatest Mayor in New York City’s history and a tremendous American patriot, will be receiving THE PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL OF FREEDOM, our country’s highest honor. More details will follow soon!”
Giuliani, who served as mayor during the tragic events of 9/11 and earned the nickname “America’s Mayor” in the aftermath, has faced various legal and financial challenges since the 2020 election. He played a significant role in Trump’s attempts to contest the election results.
Despite his troubles, Giuliani has maintained close ties with Trump, who appointed him to an advisory role within the Department of Homeland Security in June. Additionally, Giuliani’s son, Andrew, has been tapped to lead the White House Task Force for the upcoming FIFA World Cup in 2026.
After the announcement, Giuliani’s spokesperson, Ted Goodman, praised him, saying, “There is no American more deserving of this honor. Mayor Rudy Giuliani took down the Mafia, saved New York City, comforted the nation in the wake of 9/11, and contributed in numerous ways to better the lives of others. Thank you, President Trump, for commemorating his remarkable legacy.”
This past weekend, Giuliani was hospitalized after a vehicle crashed into his from behind at a high speed, according to his head of security, Michael Ragusa. Giuliani is said to have sustained a fractured thoracic vertebrae, multiple cuts and bruises, along with injuries to his left arm and lower leg.
On Sunday, Ragusa informed CNN that Giuliani was recovering and was in “great spirits and fully alert”.
During his time as mayor from 1994 to 2001, Giuliani was credited with revitalizing New York City, significantly lowering crime rates and boosting the economy, especially praised for his effective response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Giuliani joined Trump’s legal team in April 2018 but faced scrutiny the following year when it was revealed he encouraged Ukraine to investigate Trump’s rival in the 2020 election, Joe Biden, and his son Hunter. Authorities investigated him for potential violations of foreign lobbying laws but chose not to file any charges.
In 2020, he led Trump’s post-election legal strategies. However, since then, he has dealt with the repercussions of his efforts to challenge Trump’s electoral defeat. He was disbarred in both New York and Washington, D.C., and faced a $148 million defamation lawsuit from two former Georgia election workers, Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss, over false claims he had made against them after the election.
In January, Giuliani reached a settlement with Freeman and Moss that allowed him to keep his home and most of his valuable assets.
This story has been updated with new details.
Contributions from CNN’s Katelyn Polantz and Nicki Brown are noted.
