Former President Donald Trump says he will award Rudy Giuliani the Presidential Medal of Freedom — the highest civilian honor in the United States — only days after the former New York City mayor was hospitalized from a violent car crash in New Hampshire.
“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,” Trump wrote on social media, promising details on the ceremony soon.
The announcement comes as Giuliani, 81, recovers from a fractured thoracic vertebra, multiple cuts and bruises, and injuries to his left arm and leg. His spokesperson said the crash happened when the vehicle Giuliani was riding in was “struck from behind at high speed.”
Giuliani’s longtime aide Ted Goodman praised the decision, calling him “the most deserving American” for the honor. “Mayor Rudy Giuliani took down the Mafia, saved New York City, comforted the nation after 9/11, and served in countless other ways to improve lives,” Goodman said.
From “America’s Mayor” to Trump Ally
Giuliani rose to national fame in the 1980s and ’90s as a tough federal prosecutor before serving two terms as New York City’s mayor. His leadership after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks earned him the nickname “America’s mayor.”
After leaving City Hall, Giuliani made a brief run for president in 2008, then became one of Trump’s closest advisers during his first term. He later played a central role in promoting false claims that the 2020 election was stolen — efforts that led to his disbarment in New York and Washington, D.C., and a $148 million defamation judgment against him for spreading lies about Georgia election workers. He eventually declared bankruptcy.
About the Medal
The Presidential Medal of Freedom, created by President John F. Kennedy in 1963, is awarded to individuals who have made “exemplary contributions” to the United States, world peace, or other significant public or private endeavors.
