WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump announced on Monday that he will award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani. The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the highest civilian honor in the United States and is given to individuals who have made significant contributions to the national interests or security of the country, world peace, or other cultural or public endeavors.
The announcement was made by the President on his social media platform, Truth Social, where he called Giuliani “the greatest Mayor in the history of New York City, and an equally great American Patriot,” as cited by The Associated Press. The decision comes days after Giuliani was hospitalized following a car crash in New Hampshire.
Giuliani, who served as mayor of New York City from 1994 to 2001, gained national prominence for his leadership in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. However, his public career has been marked by a series of legal challenges and controversies in recent years, particularly related to his role as a personal lawyer for Trump. According to reports from The Guardian and The Hindu, Giuliani has been disbarred in New York and Washington, D.C., for making false statements about the 2020 election.
Despite the controversies, Giuliani’s spokesperson, Ted Goodman, stated that there is “no American more deserving of this honor,” adding that Giuliani’s decades of service included “taking down the Mafia, saving New York City, [and] comforting the nation following 9/11,” as reported by The Independent. The White House has not yet announced a date or location for the ceremony.