Rudy Giuliani, the former New York City mayor once celebrated as "America’s Mayor" for his leadership during the September 11, 2001 attacks, finds himself at the center of national attention once again—this time for a mix of triumph and tribulation. On September 4, 2025, former President Donald Trump announced that Giuliani would receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the United States. This decision has sparked both praise and controversy, given Giuliani’s tumultuous recent years, which have included legal troubles, public scandals, and, most recently, a serious car crash in New Hampshire.
According to the Brooklyn Eagle, Trump lauded Giuliani as the “greatest Mayor in the history of New York City and an equally great American Patriot.” The Medal of Freedom, established in 1963, is reserved for individuals who have made “especially meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace or cultural or other significant public endeavors.” For Giuliani, this award serves as both a recognition of his past heroics and a flashpoint in the ongoing debate over his legacy.
Giuliani’s latest ordeal began on Saturday, August 30, 2025, when he was involved in a rear-end collision on Interstate 93 in New Hampshire. As reported by the Associated Press and detailed on his own online program, “America’s Mayor Live,” Giuliani was a passenger in a rented Ford Bronco driven by his spokesperson, Ted Goodman. The pair had just left a minor league baseball game and were making their way down the highway when their vehicle was struck from behind by a Honda HR-V driven by a 19-year-old woman.
The crash was severe. Both vehicles hit the highway median and were described as “heavily damaged” by New Hampshire State Police. Giuliani, 81, suffered a fractured thoracic vertebra, multiple lacerations, contusions, and injuries to his left arm and lower leg. Goodman and the young driver were also hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. According to Michael Ragusa, Giuliani’s head of security, the former mayor was transported by ambulance to a nearby trauma center for treatment. State police confirmed that both Giuliani and Goodman were wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash. The cause of the accident remains under investigation, but authorities said the crash and a preceding roadside incident were unrelated, and no charges were filed.
In a video statement released on September 3, 2025, Giuliani recounted the harrowing moments before and after the crash. He described experiencing “more pain than I ever felt,” noting that he could barely move in the aftermath. “God was very, very good to us. He looked after us,” Giuliani said, reflecting on the incident with his trademark resilience. Doctors advised him not to bend, lift, or twist for the time being, but Giuliani insisted he was expected to make a full recovery. “We did the right thing, so we can feel good about ourselves, and we can be an example,” he added.
The crash was preceded by a bizarre roadside encounter that could have come straight from a political thriller. Giuliani and Goodman were flagged down by a distressed woman who claimed she was being abused or attacked by a man accompanying her. The two men, uneasy about the situation but eager to help, told the woman to stay put while they called the police. As they waited for authorities to arrive, the woman asked to use their phone to call her sister, but Giuliani and Goodman instead offered her a ride, which she declined. According to Giuliani, a state trooper later informed him that the woman had badly beaten the man she was with. The police concluded that this domestic violence incident was unrelated to the subsequent car crash.
Despite his injuries, Giuliani wasted no time returning to the public eye. On September 3, he hosted his online shows, including the Lindell TV program, wearing what appeared to be a metal brace under his suit jacket. He used the platform not only to discuss the accident but also to celebrate Trump’s decision to honor him with the Medal of Freedom. “It’s the best medicine,” Giuliani declared, expressing gratitude for the recognition at a time when his reputation has been battered by legal and political battles.
Giuliani’s career has been marked by dramatic highs and lows. After his celebrated tenure as mayor and a brief run for the Republican presidential nomination, he became one of the most recognizable political figures in the country. However, his recent years have been defined by his role as Trump’s personal lawyer and his central involvement in efforts to overturn the 2020 election. Courts repeatedly rejected the fraud claims he advanced, and two former Georgia election workers, Ruby Freeman and Wandrea “Shaye” Moss, won a $148 million defamation judgment against him for promoting falsehoods that led to death threats and personal anguish.
The consequences of Giuliani’s actions extended beyond civil liability. He was disbarred in both New York and Washington for repeatedly making false statements about the election and was criminally charged in Georgia and Arizona in connection with efforts to undo Trump’s loss to Joe Biden. Giuliani has consistently denied any wrongdoing, maintaining his stance even as the legal system has weighed heavily against him.
The announcement of the Medal of Freedom award has reignited debate over Giuliani’s legacy. Supporters, including Trump and many in conservative circles, view the honor as a long-overdue recognition of Giuliani’s service to the nation, especially his leadership in the wake of 9/11. They argue that his later controversies should not overshadow his earlier achievements, citing the resilience and determination he displayed during one of New York’s darkest hours.
Critics, however, see the award as deeply problematic. They point to Giuliani’s pivotal role in spreading falsehoods about the 2020 election, his disbarment, and the substantial defamation judgment against him as evidence that he does not merit such an honor. For many, the decision to grant Giuliani the nation’s highest civilian award is emblematic of the polarized political climate, where past heroics and present controversies collide in dramatic fashion.
For his part, Giuliani seems undeterred by the criticism. As he recovers from his injuries and prepares to accept the Medal of Freedom, he continues to cast himself as a figure of perseverance and principle. “We can feel good about ourselves, and we can be an example,” he said, framing his recent ordeal as yet another chapter in a storied—if contentious—public life.
As the dust settles from both the car crash and the political fallout, Giuliani’s journey remains a testament to the complexity of public service in America. His story, marked by both acclaim and controversy, serves as a reminder that legacies are rarely simple—and that the lines between heroism and scandal can sometimes blur in the harsh glare of the national spotlight.