Donald Trump has awarded former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the country’s highest civilian honor.
Trump announced the award on Truth Social on Monday, describing Giuliani as a “great American Patriot.”
“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,” Trump wrote.
Highlights
- Donald Trump awarded Rudy Giuliani the Presidential Medal of Freedom, calling him a great American patriot and NYC’s greatest mayor.
- Giuliani was hospitalized with multiple injuries after a car crash in New Hampshire, following his aid to a domestic violence victim.
- Giuliani gained fame by using RICO laws to break Mafia power in New York, notably through the landmark Commission Case in the 1980s.
- Giuliani and Trump share a long history, including political support since the late 1980s and mutual attendance at each other’s weddings.
- Giuliani faced legal and financial troubles after the 2020 election, including a $148 million defamation settlement and disbarment.
Donald Trump is awarding Rudy Giuliani the Presidential Medal of Freedom
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It comes days after Giuliani, who became known as ‘America’s Mayor’ for his leadership through 9/11, was involved in a car accident and admitted to hospital.
Michael Ragusa, Giuliani’s security guard, confirmed that the 81-year-old had suffered several injuries after the car he was traveling in was struck from behind at high speed.
Ragusa said that before the incident, Giuliani had been supporting a woman who was the victim of a domestic violence incident in New Hampshire.
Giuliani was flagged down by the woman and stayed with her until police officers arrived.
Image credits: Donald J Trump
“Following this, while travelling on the highway, Mayor Giuliani’s vehicle was struck from behind at high speed,” Ragusa said in a statement on X.
“He was transported to a nearby trauma center, where he was diagnosed with a fractured thoracic vertebrae, multiple lacerations and contusions, as well as injuries to his left arm and lower leg.”
Giuliani was said to be in “good spirits and recovering tremendously.”
It is understood he has now been released from hospital and the crash is under investigation.
Ted Goodman, a spokesman for Giuliani, told CNN there was no one more deserving of the honor of the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
“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,” he said.
“Thank you, President Trump, for honoring his life and legacy.”
In the 1980s, Giuliani, as the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, led an aggressive campaign against organized crime.
He used legal tools such as the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) to bring sweeping cases against entire Mafia families rather than just individual mobsters.
Giuliani served as mayor of New York during the 9/11 terror attacks
Image credits: Drew Angerer/Getty Images
This strategy allowed prosecutors to link mob bosses to crimes carried out by their underlings, breaking through the code of silence that had protected the Mafia for decades.
One of Giuliani’s most famous cases was the Commission Case between 1985 and 1986, which saw the leadership of five major Mafia families put on trial in New York.
The convictions that followed are often credited with crippling the traditional Mafia’s power in the city, earning Giuliani a reputation as the man who took down the mob.
His relationship with Trump also goes back to the late 1980s, when Giuliani was an aspiring mayoral candidate and Trump donated to his campaign.
Image credits: Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images
Giuliani was a guest at Trump's third wedding at Mar-a-Lago in 2005, with Trump previously attending Giuliani's third wedding in 2003.
In recent years, Giuliani has faced personal and financial struggles.
He became one of Trump’s advisers in 2016, and later, in 2018, he joined Trump’s personal legal team, serving until after the 2020 presidential election.
After Joe Biden won the election, Giuliani spread claims that the election had been stolen from Trump and played a part in his efforts to overturn the results.
He was forced to pay two former Georgia election workers $148 million for spreading false election fraud claims after he was sued for defamation.
According to the BBC, Giuliani had to file for bankruptcy after the settlement, but that case was dismissed. He was also disbarred in New York state and Washington, D.C.
Under the agreement, Giuliani was allowed to keep his homes in New York and Florida, as well as most of his personal belongings.
Giuliani served as New York City mayor from 1994 until late 2001. He later made a bid for president in 2008, but was unsuccessful.