Former New York Mayor Giuliani hospitalised in critical condition

Rudy Giuliani, former New York mayor and long-time ally of President Donald Trump, is hospitalised in 'critical but stable condition'. The news was released on Sunday by his spokesman, Ted Goodman, through a message on social media.

Shortly after the statement was published, Trump himself intervened online, calling Giuliani 'a true fighter' and 'the best mayor in the history of New York', confirming his hospitalisation and the seriousness of his medical situation. In his message, the president also recalled Giuliani's role in contesting the 2020 presidential election results, denouncing what he called unfair treatment of him.

No further details on the cause of his hospitalisation have been given at the moment. However, Giuliani had been involved in a car accident late last year. On that occasion, while travelling as a passenger in a vehicle in the state of New Hampshire, he had suffered a fractured thoracic vertebra, as well as multiple lacerations, contusions and limb injuries.

A leading figure in American politics, Rudy Giuliani became internationally known as 'America's Mayor' for his handling of the emergency after the attacks of 11 September 2001. In the following years, he maintained a central role in the public arena, in particular as a close associate of Trump.

After the 2020 election, Giuliani, together with other councillors, led a legal and media campaign against the election result, accusing the then Democratic candidate Joe Biden of fraud. These accusations turned out to be unfounded and led to significant judicial consequences: a jury awarded $148 million in damages to two defamed election officials.