On Monday, President Donald Trump announced his intention to award Rudy Giuliani with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, which is the nation’s most prestigious civilian distinction. This announcement came just two days after the former New York City mayor got injured in a car accident.
“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,” Trump shared on Truth Social, indicating that details and timing would be revealed later.
Michael Ragusa, Giuliani’s head of security, reported on Sunday that the former mayor suffered a spinal fracture after being “struck from behind at high speed” while riding as a passenger in a vehicle on a New Hampshire highway.
He also mentioned that before the Saturday evening crash, Giuliani had “stopped to assist a woman who was experiencing a domestic violence situation” and had “promptly contacted 911,” remaining at the location until police arrived.
Ragusa noted that Giuliani was in “great spirits” and “completely alert and conscious,” and in his update on Sunday evening, he added that Giuliani was “set to be fitted with a brace and will commence physical therapy.”
Police have identified Ted Goodman, who has worked as a staffer for Giuliani, as the driver of the vehicle in which the former mayor was traveling. Goodman sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to a hospital.
Giuliani rose to national prominence as mayor of New York City after the 9/11 attacks. He backed Trump during his 2016 run for president and joined his legal team in 2018. Giuliani represented Trump in lawsuits attempting to overthrow the 2020 election results, and he was eventually barred from practicing law in both New York and Washington, D.C., for those efforts and the misinformation he spread.
Giuliani also faced charges in Georgia and Arizona and was named as an unindicted co-conspirator in special counsel Jack Smith’s federal election interference case against Trump. Giuliani denied the allegations.
Past recipients of the award include the crew of the Apollo 11, actor Denzel Washington, journalist Edward R. Murrow, gymnast Simone Biles and director Steven Spielberg. In his first term, Trump bestowed the honor on radio host Rush Limbaugh, golfer Tiger Woods, Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan and baseball player Babe Ruth, among others.
