• Trump announces that Rudy Giuliani will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
• The honor comes two days after Giuliani was injured in a car crash.
• Giuliani is known for his role post-9/11 and his controversial efforts to overturn the 2020 election results.
• Trump described Giuliani as “the greatest Mayor in the history of New York City.”
• Giuliani faces a history of legal and professional challenges, including disbarment.

President Donald Trump announced on Monday that former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor. This announcement comes just two days after Giuliani sustained serious injuries in a car crash in New Hampshire. In a post on his Truth Social account, Trump referred to Giuliani as “the greatest Mayor in the history of New York City, and an equally great American Patriot,” and stated that further details regarding the award ceremony would follow, according to The Hill and CBS News.

Giuliani, who served as mayor from 1994 to 2001, gained notoriety for his leadership during the September 11 attacks. However, he has also faced significant backlash due to his role in supporting Trump’s claims of election fraud in 2020, which ultimately led to his disbarment and criminal charges in two states, as detailed by SCMP and Al Jazeera.

The tragic car crash occurred when Giuliani’s vehicle was struck from behind while he was assisting a woman fleeing a domestic violence situation; he is reported to have suffered a fractured thoracic vertebra along with other injuries. Despite these challenges, Giuliani’s spokesperson, Michael Ragusa, stated he remains in good spirits and is recovering well, according to LA Times and HuffPost.

The Presidential Medal of Freedom, established in 1963, is awarded to individuals for exceptional contributions to the nation's prosperity and security, world peace, or significant public service, which raises questions about the award's implications given Giuliani’s controversial recent history, highlighted by India Times and Channel News Asia.