Former NYC Mayor Giuliani Hospitalized with 9/11-Related Respiratory Illness

Former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani is currently recovering in a Florida hospital from pneumonia complications linked to health issues he developed during the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, according to his spokesperson.

The 81-year-old Republican stalwart, who led New York City during one of its darkest moments, is suffering from restrictive airway disease—a condition he developed after rushing to the World Trade Center site to help following the attacks nearly 25 years ago.

“On September 11, Mayor Giuliani ran toward the towers to help those in need, which led to a restrictive airway disease diagnosis,” Ted Goodman, Giuliani’s spokesman, confirmed on Monday. Goodman added that Giuliani remains hospitalized as a “precautionary measure” but his condition appears to be improving.

Giuliani was just two blocks away when the first tower collapsed at 9:59 a.m. on that fateful Tuesday morning. The collapse released a massive cloud of highly alkaline dust containing pulverized concrete, asbestos, and glass that blanketed Lower Manhattan.

The condition Giuliani suffers from is sometimes referred to as “World Trade Center Cough,” a lung disease caused by inhaling the toxic particulates released during the towers’ collapse. Thousands of first responders and individuals present in Lower Manhattan during and after the attacks have battled similar respiratory ailments over the past two decades.

“This disease adds complications to any emerging respiratory issue, and the virus quickly overwhelmed his body, requiring mechanical ventilation to maintain his blood pressure,” Goodman explained. However, he noted that Giuliani is now breathing without assistance and has his primary medical providers at his side.

The health impacts of 9/11 exposure have become increasingly apparent in the years following the attacks. The federal government established the World Trade Center Health Program to address the ongoing medical needs of survivors and responders. Public figures like comedian Jon Stewart have advocated strongly for continued funding and support for those suffering from 9/11-related illnesses.

Giuliani, who was in the final year of his second term as mayor when the attacks occurred, became a nationally recognized figure for his leadership during the crisis. His presence at Ground Zero in the immediate aftermath and throughout the recovery process earned him the nickname “America’s Mayor” and Time magazine’s “Person of the Year” recognition in 2001.

“Mayor Giuliani is the ultimate fighter—as he has demonstrated throughout his life—and he is winning this battle,” Goodman said in his statement, which he also posted to social media platform X. “His family deeply appreciates the outpouring of love and support. The mayor believes in the power of prayer, and we are feeling that strength today. He remains in critical but stable condition.”

In the years following his mayoral service, Giuliani has remained a prominent figure in Republican politics, serving as an advisor to former President Donald Trump and mounting his own presidential campaign in 2008. Most recently, he was seen alongside Trump at the September 11 remembrance ceremony at Ground Zero, marking the 23rd anniversary of the attacks.

The hospitalization comes as many 9/11 first responders continue to face serious health challenges from their exposure at Ground Zero, highlighting the long-term health consequences that continue to emerge decades after the terrorist attacks.