Less than 48 hours after Labor Day weekend car crash that left him hospitalized with serious injuries, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani was hit with some very welcome news that could boost his recovery thanks to President Donald Trump.
Trump announced his plan to give Giuliani the nation’s highest civilian honor — the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Trump made the initial announcement via his Truth Social platform on Labor Day, promising more details at a later date.
“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,” he posted.
“Details as to time and place to follow. Thank you for your attention to this matter. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!”
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) September 1, 2025
The stunning news comes just hours after Giuliani sustained serious injuries in a weekend car accident in New Hampshire when another vehicle struck his from behind at high speed.
Michael Ragusa, Giuliani’s head of security, issued a statement on Sunday, saying:
“Prior to the incident, Mayor Giuliani was flagged down by a woman who was the victim of a domestic violence incident. Mayor Giuliani immediately rendered assistance and contacted 911. He remained on scene until responding officers arrived to ensure her safety. Following this, while traveling on the highway, Mayor Giuliani’s vehicle was struck from behind at high speed.”
According to Ragusa, Giuliani was hospitalized with multiple injuries, including “a fractured thoracic vertebrae,” multiple lacerations and contusions and injuries to his left arm and lower leg.
The 19-year-old driver of the other vehicle also suffered non-life-threatening injuries in the crash and both vehicles were badly damaged.
Ragusa posted a statement on behalf of Giuliani on X, asking for privacy during the former mayor’s recovery.
@RudyGiuliani was in a car accident in NH on Aug 30 after assisting a domestic violence victim. He sustained injuries but is in good spirits and recovering tremendously. Thank you for the prayers & support. 🙏 official statement below. pic.twitter.com/ohYJCcXpjR
— Michael Ragusa (@themikeragu) August 31, 2025
Ragusa spoked to Fox News Monday morning, giving an update on Giuliani’s condition:
“Mayor Giuliani’s condition continues to improve, and he is expected to be discharged from the hospital within the next few days,” Ragusa said in a statement.
“This is a man who survived 9/11—so a little car accident won’t be slowing him down. He is eager to return to business and continue fighting for this country, as he has proudly done for the past 50 years.”
Video captured by troopers’ dashboard and body-worn cameras is being reviewed as part of the ongoing investigation, according to Fox News.
Giuliani served as Mayor of New York City from 1994-2001, and earned the nickname “America’s Mayor” for his leadership in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks that brought down the World Trade Center.
Writing of the experience in his 2002 book “Leadership,” Giuliani noted that he’d returned to Ground Zero a number of times on that horrific day.
“I needed to see with my own eyes the disaster site and our rescue operations, and get a sense of what we would be dealing with in the months to come,” he said.
Of his efforts to put forth a positive message and bring New Yorkers together as they dealt with the tragic loss of life, he wrote that he “had to communicate with the public, to do whatever I could to calm people down and communicate with them.”
However, Giuliani has been snared in a series of defamation lawsuits over the past few years, spanning back as far as the 2020 election.