Trump Selects Giuliani as the First Recipient of the Medal of Freedom for His Second Term

Trump Awards Giuliani Presidential Medal of Freedom

President Donald Trump announced on Monday that former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani will be honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, which is the highest civilian award in the United States. This marks the first Freedom Medal given by Trump during his second term.

Trump wrote about it on social media, stating, “Rudy Giuliani, the greatest mayor in New York history, is pleased to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom.” The medal is awarded at the President’s discretion to individuals who have made significant contributions to national security, peace, cultural efforts, or other notable achievements.

This announcement came a day after Giuliani was hospitalized due to injuries sustained in a car accident in New Hampshire. According to his security officer, Giuliani had stopped to help victims of domestic violence and called 911, just before his vehicle was rear-ended on the highway. He was diagnosed with fractures in his chest vertebrae along with other injuries. His officer mentioned that Giuliani is “well and doing very well.”

Many supporters, including Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Michigan Senate Minority Leader Arik Nesbitt, have taken to social media to express their prayers for Giuliani’s recovery.

Giuliani served as mayor of New York City from 1994 to 2001, gaining nationwide acclaim for his leadership after the September 11 attacks. He has been a long-time ally of Trump and served as his personal lawyer during Trump’s first term.

Trump’s decision to award Giuliani follows a number of controversial selections made by his predecessor, Joe Biden, who recognized figures such as former Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, among others. Critics have pointed out that Biden’s awards sometimes seemed misaligned with the values held by many Americans.

Biden described some recipients as individuals who made “experimental contributions” to American society. Alex Marlow, Editor-in-Chief of Breitbart, remarked that Biden’s decisions led to comedic responses in the country, implying a tone of sarcasm regarding how those awards were perceived.