Former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani will receive a Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor, Donald Trump has announced on Truth Social.
Giuliani became known as 'America's Mayor' after leading New York through 9/11. While he previously worked as Trump's personal lawyer, the pair have since parted ways.
The announcement comes two days after Giuliani sustained back injuries when a car he was a passenger in was struck from behind, police said.
Presidential Medals of Freedom are awarded to people who have made 'exceptionally meritorious contributions to the nation's prosperity, values, or security, world peace, or other significant public or private endeavors.'
In the Truth Social post where Trump announced Giuliani's nomination, the president called him 'the greatest Mayor in the history of New York City, and an equally great American Patriot.'
Past honorees include Muhammad Ali, Dr. Jane Goodall, Anna Wintour, and Michael J. Fox, among many others.
Giuliani has not yet publicly commented on the announcement, and it remains unclear when he will formally receive the medal.
On Saturday evening, Giuliani was a passenger in a car that was struck from behind in New Hampshire. All involved suffered non-life threatening injuries. Giuliani's security guard reported that he suffered back injuries and lacerations, but he has since left the hospital.
Guiliani's response to the September 11 attacks garnered widespread praise, earning him Time magazine's Person of the Year for 2001 and an honorary knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II.
Despite his historic rise to fame, Giuliani has faced personal and financial problems in recent years. Following his legal work with Trump until early 2021, he was also involved in controversial claims regarding the 2020 election.
In recent legal battles, he was ordered to pay $148 million for defamation related to election fraud claims.
