Rudy Giuliani, the former New York City mayor whose career has spanned dramatic highs and lows, is once again at the center of national attention. Days after surviving a serious car crash in New Hampshire, Giuliani, 81, was named by President Donald Trump as the next recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the United States’ highest civilian honor. The announcement, made on September 1, 2025, via Trump’s social media platform, has reignited debate over Giuliani’s legacy and the significance of the honor itself.
The events that propelled Giuliani back into the headlines began on August 30, 2025. While traveling on a New Hampshire highway, Giuliani’s vehicle—a rented Ford Bronco driven by his spokesperson, Ted Goodman—was struck from behind at high speed by a Honda HR-V. According to his head of security, Michael Ragusa, Giuliani had stopped to help a woman who was the victim of a domestic violence incident. He remained on the scene until police arrived to ensure her safety, Ragusa said. The crash left Giuliani with a fractured thoracic vertebra, multiple lacerations and contusions, and injuries to his left arm and lower leg. He was hospitalized for several days and will need to wear a brace for his injured back. Despite the ordeal, Ragusa reported, “The mayor is in great spirits. He’s a beast. He survived 9/11.”
Just days after the accident, President Trump announced his decision to honor Giuliani. In a post on Truth Social, Trump declared, “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.” Trump added, “Details as to time and place to follow. Thank you for your attention to this matter. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!” According to The Associated Press, the Medal of Freedom was established in 1963 and is awarded to 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.
Giuliani’s spokesperson, Ted Goodman, praised the decision, stating on social media, “There is no American more deserving of this honor. Mayor Rudy Giuliani took down the Mafia, saved New York City, comforted the nation following 9/11, and served in countless other ways to improve the lives of others. Thank you, President Trump, for honoring his life and legacy.”
For many Americans, Giuliani’s name is synonymous with his leadership in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. As mayor from 1994 to 2001, he gained national and international recognition for guiding New York City through its darkest days. His calm demeanor and relentless presence at Ground Zero earned him the moniker “America’s mayor,” a label that stuck for years. Before his tenure as mayor, Giuliani made headlines as a tough federal prosecutor in the 1980s and 1990s, credited with taking down major Mafia families and tackling corruption in New York. After two terms as mayor, he ran for president in 2008, though his campaign ended after a disappointing third-place finish in the Florida Republican primary.
However, Giuliani’s public life has also been marked by controversy and decline. As Trump’s personal attorney, he played a central role in efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election, advancing unfounded claims of widespread fraud. Courts repeatedly rejected these claims, and Giuliani was ultimately found liable for $148 million in damages for defaming two Georgia election workers, Ruby Freeman and Wandrea “Shaye” Moss. The pair said Giuliani’s promotion of falsehoods about the election led to death threats that made them fear for their lives. Giuliani was subsequently disbarred in both New York and Washington for making repeated false statements about the election and was criminally charged in both Georgia and Arizona in connection with attempts to reverse Trump’s loss to Joe Biden. He has denied any wrongdoing.
The announcement of Giuliani’s Medal of Freedom comes at a time when his reputation remains sharply polarized. Supporters, including Trump and Goodman, point to his decades of public service and his leadership during crises. Critics, however, see the honor as an attempt to rehabilitate a figure who has been at the center of some of the most divisive political battles in recent memory. The Associated Press noted that the Medal of Freedom is typically reserved for individuals whose contributions have had a profound and positive impact on the nation or the world. Whether Giuliani fits that bill is the subject of fierce debate.
As if the moment weren’t contentious enough, Giuliani has also faced renewed scrutiny from an entirely different quarter. Just as news of his impending award broke, a controversial scene from the 2020 film Borat Subsequent Moviefilm began recirculating on social media platforms like TikTok. The scene shows Giuliani in a compromising situation with actress Maria Bakalova, who was posing as a TV reporter. Hidden cameras captured Giuliani reaching into his trousers while lying on a bed, sparking widespread speculation and criticism at the time. Giuliani has consistently denied any impropriety, telling the New York Post, “It was a scam or shakedown, so I reported it to the police, who found that no crime had been committed.” In a separate interview with WABC, he explained, “I was only trying to take off the electronic equipment. And when the electronic equipment came off, some of it was in the back, and my shirt came a little out, although my clothes were entirely on. I leaned back, and I tucked my shirt in, and at that point, they have this picture they take which looks doctored, but in any event, I’m tucking my shirt in. I assure you that’s all I was doing.” He later called the film “a complete fabrication,” insisting, “At no time before, during, or after the interview was I ever inappropriate. If Sacha Baron Cohen implies otherwise, he is a stone-cold liar.”
As the Medal of Freedom ceremony approaches—details of which are still forthcoming—Giuliani remains hospitalized but is expected to be released soon, according to Ragusa. He will continue to recover from his injuries, now with the added attention that comes from being thrust, once again, into the national spotlight. The debate over his legacy, and the appropriateness of the nation’s highest civilian honor, is unlikely to subside any time soon. For now, Giuliani’s story is a vivid reminder of how quickly fortunes can turn in American public life, and how the past—both heroic and controversial—never stays buried for long.
