Trump has announced that Rudy Giuliani, the former New York City mayor who earned the nickname “America’s Mayor” in the aftermath of the September 11th attacks, will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor.
The announcement came Sunday in a Truth Social post, where Trump described Giuliani as “the greatest Mayor in the history of New York City, and an equally great American Patriot.” The Medal of Freedom is awarded to individuals who have made “exceptionally meritorious contributions to the nation’s prosperity, values, or security, world peace, or other significant public or private endeavors.”
A Legacy Shaped by 9/11
Giuliani, now 81, became a symbol of resilience after guiding New York through one of its worst days following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. His calm leadership and public presence garnered him global acclaim, and Time magazine named him Person of the Year in 2001. Queen Elizabeth II later awarded him an honorary knighthood for his role in navigating the city through a crisis. Trump’s decision is a symbolic return to the forefront for Giuliani, whose political career was characterised by his post-9/11 heroism before being overshadowed by legal and financial issues.
A Tumultuous Road
Giuliani’s more recent years have been riddled with controversies. After joining Trump’s legal team in 2018, he became one of the most outspoken critics of the 2020 election results, propagating unfounded allegations of voter fraud. That approach resulted in a number of lawsuits, including a stunning $148 million defamation judgement for two Georgia election workers wrongly accused by Giuliani of fraud. The verdict put him into bankruptcy, and he eventually lost his law licence. Despite these defeats, Trump has praised Giuliani as a reliable ally. An adviser close to both men stated that while Giuliani is no longer Trump’s counsel, the two remain “friends and political comrades.”
Recent Health Scare
The announcement of the medal comes just days after Giuliani was injured in a car accident in New Hampshire. Police reported that the vehicle he was traveling in was struck from behind on Saturday evening, sending Giuliani and others involved to the hospital with no major injuries. His security team confirmed he suffered back injuries and few scratches but has been released.
Honoring an Unfinished Legacy
The Medal of Freedom has been awarded to figures as varied as Muhammad Ali, Maya Angelou, Michael J. Fox, and Joe Biden, who received the medal from President Barack Obama in 2017. Giuliani’s addition to this list places him among a pantheon of Americans recognized for transformative influence though his career has been marked by both success and controversy.
For Trump, the move appears to be both personal and political, a nod to a figure who embodied national strength during the crisis and later stood by him during his own political battles. For Giuliani, it is a chance to cement his legacy not just as a man whose career faltered in later years, but as a leader whose name became synonymous with resilience in America’s most trying hour.
