Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani made his return to the airwaves Wednesday, hosting his eponymous program after being hospitalized earlier this month with viral pneumonia. The 81-year-old Republican, who led the city from 1994 to 2001, told listeners he is making a steady recovery and feels nearly back to normal.
“I feel 100 percent, but I’m probably not. I still am recovering from what was a pretty… serious bout of viral pneumonia,” Giuliani said on “The Rudy Giuliani Show.” He added that he has been walking daily and is “in the middle of making a very, very full and complete recovery.”
Giuliani’s hospitalization earlier this month came amid a series of legal and health challenges. His spokesperson, Ted Goodman, confirmed on May 6 that the former mayor had been moved out of the intensive care unit at Good Samaritan Medical Center in West Palm Beach, Florida.
During his show, Giuliani expressed gratitude to his medical team, including his primary care physician Dr. Maria Ryan, and the hospital staff. “They were absolutely terrific,” he said. “The doctors, the nurses and all of the technicians… so many professionals and they’re so good. And they were kind, and they were explanatory and they were uniformly good.”
He also thanked those who sent prayers and goodwill, notably President Donald Trump, with whom he spoke while hospitalized. Giuliani served as Trump’s personal lawyer and led legal efforts to challenge the 2020 election results in several states.
The former mayor’s legal troubles have continued. In 2023, he lost a $148 million defamation suit for false claims against two Georgia election workers. As of last September, he had fully satisfied that judgment, though the case remains a significant blemish on his post-9/11 legacy.
Viral pneumonia, while typically less severe than bacterial pneumonia, can cause high fever, shortness of breath, dry cough, and muscle pain, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Giuliani’s recovery appears to be progressing, but he acknowledged it is not yet complete.
Giuliani’s return to his show comes as other political figures face their own challenges. In a separate development, former Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Stephen Cloobeck was arrested on a felony witness tampering charge, highlighting the legal perils that can ensnare political operatives.
