Rudy Giuliani To Receive Presidential Medal Of Freedom, Trump Says

NEW YORK CITY, NY — Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, President Donald Trump said Monday.

Trump made the announcement on his Truth Social platform, two days after Giuliani was injured in a motor vehicle crash in New Hampshire.

"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. Details as to time and place to follow. Thank you for your attention to this matter. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!" the Truth Social post said.

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the highest civilian honor in the United States, according to Congress.gov. It is awarded by the president and "is often presented to individuals to recognize a lifetime of significant achievements in the arts, public service, science, or other fields."

It was created by President Harry S. Truman in 1945 as the Medal of Freedom, the medal was renamed by President John F. Kennedy in 1963 as the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

An executive order Kennedy signed allows the President to recognize "any person who has made an especially meritorious contribution to (1) the security or national interests of the United States, or (2) world peace, or (3) cultural or other significant public or private endeavors," according to Congress.gov. There is no formal procedure for nominating and selecting recipients, who "often reflect the President's political and personal interests."

The medal has been awarded 673 times to 670 individuals and one group (the Apollo 13 Mission Operations Team). Two people — Ellsworth Bunker and Colin Powell — received the medal twice.

Giuliani was dubbed “America’s mayor” in light of his leadership in New York after the Sept. 11 attacks in 2001. He later served as Trump’s personal attorney for a time and was a vocal proponent of Trump’s allegations of fraud in the 2020 election, won by Democrat Joe Biden. Two former Georgia elections workers won a $148 million defamation judgment against Giuliani.

In the crash Saturday, Giuliani suffered a fractured thoracic vertebra, lacerations and contusions, and injuries to his left arm and lower leg, according to his head of security, Michael Ragusa, who posted Sunday afternoon on X that Giuliani was "in good spirits and recovering tremendously."