They confirm that Rudy Giulini has pneumonia: he is still hospitalized and in critical condition, but he breathes on his own

Giuliani, 81, remains in critical but stable condition at a Florida hospital and is under observation as a precaution, spokesman Ted Goodman said.

Goodman explained that Giuliani’s condition was exacerbated by a restrictive airway disease, attributed to his exposure to dust and the toxins from the attack on the World Trade Center of September 11, 2001.

Giuliani’s hospitalization near Palm Beach, Florida, came after he was heard coughing Friday on his late-night online talk show and hoarsely commenting to viewers that he was feeling a little under the weather.

This condition adds complications to any respiratory diseaseand the virus quickly overwhelmed his body, requiring mechanical ventilation to maintain an adequate level of oxygen and stabilize his condition, Goodman detailed in a statement. He described Giuliani as the ultimate fighter and stated that he is winning this battle.

Giuliani’s family and his main medical provider are by his side, Goodman added. He said the former mayor’s family thanked those who sent well wishes for the outpouring of love and support. Among them: President Donald Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and two of Giuliani’s successors, former Mayor Eric Adams and current Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

The mayor believes in the power of prayer and we are feeling that force today, Goodman said.

Giuliani’s eight years as mayor of the largest city of the United States were marked by the attack of September 11, just a few months before he left office. He was celebrated as America’s mayor for his leadership, knighted by Queen Elizabeth II and named Person of the Year by Time magazine.

Giuliani, a Republican, later ran unsuccessfully for president and He was an advisor to Trumpleading his efforts to remain in office following his 2020 election loss. Last year, Trump said he would give Giuliani the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Giuliani coughed as he began his late-night online show America’s Mayor Live on Friday. As he spoke, his voice sounded raspier than usual. Before starting a comment on the war in Iran, he commented: My voice is a little unwell, so I won’t be able to speak as loudly as I usually do, but I will get closer to the microphone.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump called Giuliani “a true warrior and the best mayor in the history of New York City, by far.”

“What a tragedy that he was treated so badly by the radical left lunatics, all Democrats, and he was right about everything!” Trump wrote on Sunday. “They cheated in the election, they fabricated hundreds of stories, they did everything they could to destroy our nation and now, look at Rudy. How sad!”

As Trump’s personal lawyer and adviser, Giuliani became a vocal defender of the president’s allegations of fraud in the 2020 elections, which were won by Democrat Joe Biden.

Trump and his followers lost dozens of lawsuits alleging fraud, and numerous recounts, reviews and audits of election results revealed no evidence of significant irregularities or errors.

Two former Georgia election workers They subsequently won a $148 million defamation judgment against Giuliani.. As they attempted to collect the judgment, the former federal prosecutor was found in contempt of court and faced trial this winter over ownership of some of his assets.

Giuliani finally reached an agreement that allowed him preserve their homes and various belongings, including his prized World Series rings, in exchange for unspecified compensation and a promise to stop badmouthing former election workers.

Giuliani had already been hospitalized in September after suffering a fractured vertebra and other injuries in a car accident and New Hampshire.

A New Yorker by birth, Giuliani was elected mayor in 1993 after serving as one of the country’s highest-profile federal prosecutors, facing gangsters and corrupt Wall Street operators.

He ran for the United States Senate in 2000, but dropped out of the race against Hillary Rodham Clinton. after being diagnosed with prostate cancer.

In 2007, Giuliani ran for president. Buoyed by his post-9/11 popularity, he began as the front-runner for the Republican nomination. But that didn’t last long. He withdrew from the race after struggling in the primary amid GOP concerns about his past support for abortion rights, gay rights and gun control, as well as questions about his personal life and business ties to the Middle East.

He considered running for other positions before opting for the political commentary.

In 2016, Trump leaned on Giuliani’s political acumen and loyalty and put him to work as a surrogate leading attacks against Clinton, his Democratic rival. After Trump won, Giuliani continued as his attack dogeven traveling to Ukraine to search for damaging information on Biden’s son Hunter.