President Donald Trump said on Labor Day (Sept. 1) he will award Rudolph ‘Rudy’ Giuliani the Presidential Medal of Freedom. It is the nation’s highest civilian honor. The president’s announcement comes two days after the former New York Mayor was seriously injured in a car crash.
For context, the Medal of Freedom was established in 1963. It is awarded to individuals who have made especially admirable contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, or cultural or other significant public efforts.
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More Details About Rudy Giuliani’s Car Accident
On Saturday (Aug. 30) night, Rudy Giuliani was involved in a collision in New Hampshire that landed him in the hospital. State police said the 81-year-old was a passenger in a rented Ford Bronco that his spokesperson, Ted Goodman, was driving. While on the road, a Honda HR-V hit the Bronco from behind.
According to his security chief, Michael Ragusa, Giuliani suffered a fractured thoracic vertebra along with multiple lacerations and contusions. He also had injuries in his left arm and leg. Early Monday (Labor Day), Ragusa said Rudy Giuliani was still in the hospital but would be out “soon.” He has since been released, per WMUR9.
Trump Claims Rudy Will Get Medal Of Freedom
President Donald Trump, in a statement on Truth Social, called Rudy Giuliani the “greatest Mayor in the history of New York City, and an equally great American Patriot.” In his unexpected statement, Trump said that details regarding time and place will soon be provided. “Thank you for your attention to this matter. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN,” he added.
Is Giuliani Worthy Of The Highest Honor?
President Donald Trump’s decision places the award on a man once praised for leading New York after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. After doing so, Rudy Giuliani mounted a brief campaign for the Republican presidential nomination. At that time, he became one of the most recognizable political figures in the country. These days, though, that’s far from his reputation.
As Donald Trump’s personal lawyer, he became a key figure in efforts to overturn the 2020 election. Courts repeatedly rejected the fraud claims he pushed, and two former Georgia election workers won a $148 million defamation judgment against him.
In addition to sanctions, the courts also disbarred him in New York and Washington for amplifying the false election claims. Prosecutors in Georgia and Arizona also criminally charged Rudy in connection with efforts to undo Donald Trump’s loss to Joe Biden. He has denied wrongdoing.
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Associated Press staff contributed to this report via AP Newsroom.
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