Rudy Giuliani, recovering from pneumonia, remains in critical condition

WASHINGTON – Top Trump ally and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani remains hospitalized and is recovering from pneumonia, a spokesperson said on May 4.

Ted Goodman, spokesperson for the Republican, linked Giuliani's condition to his exposure to toxins in the wake of the 9/11 terror attacks in a statement on X. Giuliani was serving as mayor of New York at the time.

"On September 11th, Mayor Giuliani ran toward the towers to help those in need, which later led to a diagnosis of restrictive airway disease," Goodman said. "This condition adds complications to any respiratory illness, and the virus quickly overwhelmed his body, requiring mechanical ventilation to maintain adequate oxygen and stabilize his condition. He is now breathing on his own, with his family and primary medical provider at his side."

Goodman said Giuliani, who was hospitalized on May 3, is still in "critical but stable condition."

His spokesperson said the Giuliani family "deeply appreciates the outpouring of love and support" in his latest update.

Less than an hour after Goodman confirmed the former mayor had been hospitalized, President Donald Trump posted on his social media platform Truth Social to heap praise on Giuliani.

Trump called his former lawyer "fabulous," writing that "he was treated so badly by the Radical Left Lunatics, Democrats ALL." The president also said Giuliani was "RIGHT ABOUT EVERYTHING!" − appearing to reference his involvement in Trump's attempt to overturn the 2020 election. Giuliani was one of Trump's lawyers in the efforts. They resulted in criminal charges against Giuliani in two states and a defamation lawsuit from election workers in Georgia. 

Giuliani denied wrongdoing in the criminal cases.

Election workers, Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss, sued Giuliani and won a $148 million judgment in 2023 after he falsely said the pair stuffed ballot boxes during the 2020 election. The women settled with Giuliani in 2025.

New York's current Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a Democrat, wished Giuliani a steady recovery, Reuters reported.

"He's been a fixture in our city's politics and public life for so many years," Mamdani said. "And I know that many New Yorkers are concerned by the reports that he's in critical condition."

Contributing: James Powel and Bart Jansen, USA TODAY.

This is a developing story that will be updated.