On Saturday, Rudy Giuliani, another erstwhile New Yorker and former mayor of the city, was hospitalized. He sustained serious injuries from a car crash in New Hampshire. As of this writing at 81 years old, Giuliani is still recuperating from that fractured thoracic vertebra. He is subject to several lacerations and contusions of his initially left arm and leg. His security chief, Michael Ragusa, said that Giuliani would be coming out of the hospital “very shortly.”
Giuliani rose to prominence in U.S. politics for his leadership during the September 11, 2001, attacks and the subsequent recovery efforts in New York City. His time in office as mayor of New York earned him the nickname, “America’s Mayor.” Though he was widely celebrated for his leadership after 9/11, Giuliani’s post-mayoral career has been clouded by scandal.
Donald Trump just made an unexpected and thrilling announcement. He is expected to award Rudy Giuliani the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the United States’ highest civilian honor. In 2017, Trump called Giuliani a “great patriot” and cited his service to the country during his remarks.
“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,” – Donald Trump
Giuliani would eventually go on to serve as Trump’s personal lawyer. He was a central figure in efforts to subvert Trump’s defeat in the 2020 presidential election. He spread fraudulent and misleading claims of widespread fraud within the election, which ultimately got him disbarred. This past week, a group of Georgia election workers won a substantial court victory. For the latter, they just secured a $148 million defamation judgment against him for his false accusations.
The Presidential Medal of Freedom is given to individuals whose contributions merit the highest distinctions. These contributions always make America more prosperous, more virtuous and true to its values, or more secure. Controversy surrounding Giuliani’s actions during the post-election fiasco have raised questions about whether he deserves such an honor.
As Giuliani recovers from his injuries, the announcement of the Medal of Freedom emphasizes the divided perceptions surrounding his legacy. While many recognize his contributions during 9/11, others focus on his more recent actions that led to legal consequences and a tarnished reputation.
