Donald Trump announced on September 1, 2025, that he intends to award former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani teh Presidential medal of Freedom. The announcement, made at a fundraising event in Bedminster, New jersey, comes as Giuliani faces mounting legal and financial challenges, including a recent bankruptcy filing and ongoing scrutiny related to his role in challenging the 2020 presidential election results.
The prospective honor for Giuliani, a staunch ally throughout Trump’s political career, arrives amid heightened political polarization and debate over the integrity of democratic processes. The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the nation’s highest civilian honor, bestowed upon individuals who have made “especially meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, or to world peace, or to cultural or other critically important national endeavors.” Awarding the medal to Giuliani is highly likely to further inflame critics who accuse him of undermining faith in elections and possibly inciting the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.
Trump stated at the event, “Rudy Giuliani is a great patriot, and he has been fighting for our country for a long time.” he further lauded Giuliani’s tenure as mayor, particularly his leadership following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Giuliani served as mayor of new York City from 1994 to 2001. Following his mayoral term, he built a triumphant career as a lawyer and commentator before becoming a key figure in Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign and later serving as his personal attorney. In recent years, Giuliani has faced disbarment proceedings and multiple lawsuits related to his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results, claims that have been widely debunked. He filed for bankruptcy in August 2025, reporting significant debts.
