Rudy Giuliani leaves intensive care after pneumonia hospitalization in Florida

Rudy Giuliani had left intensive care by Wednesday, May 6, after a pneumonia hospitalization in Florida, but he remained in the hospital for recovery. The 81-year-old former New York City mayor was first reported hospitalized on Sunday, May 3, and had been treated at Good Samaritan Medical Center in West Palm Beach, where he lives. He was described as critical but stable after being placed on a ventilator, and by Monday he was breathing on his own.

His spokesperson, Ted Goodman, said Giuliani’s family and primary medical provider were with him during the hospitalization and thanked supporters for their prayers. Goodman also said Giuliani has restrictive airway disease tied to exposure to dust and toxins after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center, a condition that can complicate respiratory illnesses. Mechanical ventilation was needed to maintain adequate oxygen and stabilize his condition.

The medical update drew wider attention because Giuliani remains a visible political figure long after his years as mayor and federal prosecutor. He rose to national prominence after the 9/11 attacks, when he became one of the country’s most recognizable public officials, and his name still carries political weight in New York and in Republican circles. On Monday, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani publicly wished Giuliani a steady recovery, noting his long presence in the city’s public life.

The illness also arrives against a difficult legal backdrop. Giuliani’s work helping lead efforts to overturn Donald Trump’s 2020 election defeat led to criminal charges in two states, a defamation lawsuit brought by election workers, and his disbarment in New York in 2024. President Donald Trump also posted support for Giuliani on Truth Social, underscoring how his health remains tied to his continuing political visibility. For now, the immediate question is not political return but recovery, with Giuliani still in the hospital and no public timetable for discharge.