Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, a figure synonymous with both the city’s resilience and recent political controversy, was hospitalized Saturday night after a serious car accident in New Hampshire. Giuliani, 81, suffered a fractured thoracic vertebrae, multiple lacerations and contusions, as well as injuries to his left arm and lower leg. The incident occurred after Giuliani, driving a rental car near Manchester, was struck from behind at high speed on a highway, according to statements from his spokesperson and head of security, Michael Ragusa, as reported by Reuters, NPR, and other major outlets.
But the story didn’t start with the crash. In a twist that feels almost cinematic, Giuliani had pulled over moments earlier to help a woman who was the victim of domestic violence. According to Ragusa, Giuliani “immediately rendered assistance and contacted 911. He remained on scene until responding officers arrived to ensure her safety.” Only after the officers took over did Giuliani re-enter his vehicle and continue driving—at which point his car was hit from behind at high speed, as reported by the Associated Press and NPR.
The accident was not a targeted attack, Ragusa emphasized in statements carried by multiple outlets. “He was in a rent a car; no one knew it was him,” Ragusa clarified in response to social media speculation, as reported by The Guardian. He urged the public to “refrain from spreading unfounded conspiracy theories,” adding, “We ask everyone to respect Mayor Giuliani’s privacy and recovery.”
Giuliani was transported to a nearby trauma center, where he was diagnosed with a fractured thoracic vertebrae and multiple other injuries. His business partner, Maria Ryan—a nurse practitioner—was promptly contacted and arrived at the hospital to help oversee his care, according to The New York Post and NPR. “He’s getting further tests and stabilization of his injuries,” Ryan told The Post. Giuliani is expected to remain in the Manchester-area hospital for another two or three days, after which he will need to wear a brace for the broken vertebrae during his recovery.
Despite the painful injuries, Giuliani is reportedly in good spirits. “The mayor is in great spirits. He’s a beast. He survived 9/11,” Ragusa told The New York Post. His son, Andrew Giuliani, who now leads the White House’s FIFA World Cup 2026 Task Force, echoed the sentiment on social media: “As a son, I can tell you I’m honored to have a Dad that I can call the toughest SOB I’ve ever seen!” he wrote, according to CNBC and NPR. Andrew also asked for prayers for his father’s recovery, stating, “Fractured vertebrae. More to come … Please keep him in your prayers.”
The crash, which took place on Saturday, August 30, 2025, near Manchester, New Hampshire, has drawn attention not only because of Giuliani’s high profile but also due to the circumstances leading up to it. The former mayor’s willingness to stop and help a stranger in distress stands in contrast to the often-contentious public image he has cultivated in recent years. According to multiple reports, Giuliani did not hesitate to intervene when flagged down by the domestic violence victim, remaining with her until law enforcement arrived.
“Mayor Giuliani was flagged down by a woman who was a victim of domestic violence prior to the accident. He rendered assistance and contacted 911, remaining on scene until responding officers arrived to ensure her safety,” Ragusa stated, as reported by The New York Post. This act of public service, coming decades after his leadership during the September 11 attacks, has reminded some observers of the qualities that once earned him the nickname “America’s mayor.”
Giuliani’s long career in public life has been marked by dramatic highs and lows. Rising to prominence as a federal prosecutor in the 1980s, he built a reputation for toughness and a relentless pursuit of organized crime. He served as New York City’s mayor from 1994 to 2001, gaining international attention for his leadership after the 9/11 attacks. In more recent years, Giuliani has been a key figure in national politics, serving as a close adviser and personal lawyer to former President Donald Trump. His post-mayoral career, however, has been dogged by controversy: he was disbarred in both Washington, D.C., and New York in 2024 for making false statements about the 2020 presidential election, and in 2023 he was ordered by a jury to pay $148.1 million in damages for defaming two Georgia election workers by falsely accusing them of election fraud, according to The Guardian and NPR.
The accident has also cast a spotlight on Giuliani’s resilience. Despite his age and the severity of his injuries, reports from his team and family suggest he is recovering well. “He sustained injuries but is in good spirits and recovering tremendously,” Ragusa said in a statement carried by CNBC and NPR. The former mayor’s ability to weather personal and professional storms—whether political, legal, or, as in this case, physical—seems undiminished.
Questions remain about the precise circumstances of the crash. While the New Hampshire State Police have not yet released a detailed public report, all available statements from Giuliani’s team and law enforcement agree that the collision was an accident and not the result of any targeted action. As Ragusa noted, “The crash was not a targeted attack.”
For now, Giuliani’s immediate future involves recovery and rehabilitation. His business partner, Maria Ryan, continues to oversee his care, and his family remains by his side. The outpouring of support from friends, family, and even political foes underscores the complicated legacy of a man who has played a pivotal role in American public life for over four decades.
As Giuliani recuperates in a Manchester hospital, the unusual circumstances of his accident—a late-night act of assistance to a stranger, followed by a violent highway collision—add yet another chapter to a life already filled with both triumph and turmoil. Whether admired or criticized, Giuliani’s story continues to unfold in ways few could have predicted.
