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President Donald Trump said Monday he will present former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, two days after his longtime ally was severely injured in a car crash.
“As President of the United States of America, I am pleased to announce that Rudy Giuliani, the greatest Mayor in the history of New York City, and an equally great American Patriot, will receive THE PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL OF FREEDOM, our Country’s highest civilian honor. Details as to time and place to follow. Thank you for your attention to this matter. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
The award marks a significant moment for Giuliani, 81, who gained international recognition for leading New York through the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. He later ran briefly for the Republican presidential nomination and became one of the country’s most prominent political figures.
In recent years, however, Giuliani’s reputation shifted as he served as Trump’s personal lawyer. He played a central role in efforts to overturn the 2020 election, advancing fraud claims repeatedly dismissed in court.
Two Georgia election workers, Ruby Freeman and Wandrea “Shaye” Moss, won a $148 million defamation judgment against him, saying his allegations subjected them to death threats and harassment.
Giuliani was hospitalized after a Saturday night collision in New Hampshire. State police said he was a passenger in a rented Ford Bronco driven by his spokesman, Ted Goodman, when another vehicle struck them from behind.
Giuliani sustained a fractured thoracic vertebra along with cuts, bruises and injuries to his left arm and leg, according to his security chief, Michael Ragusa. Ragusa said Monday that Giuliani remained hospitalized but was expected to be released soon.
The Medal of Freedom, created in 1963, is the nation’s highest civilian honor. It recognizes individuals who have made exceptional contributions to U.S. security or national interests, world peace, culture or other significant public endeavors.
