A quarter-century later, Giuliani tries to join 9/11 health program

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: USA Today

May 7, 2026, 3:17 p.m. ET


Rudy Giuliani, who was hospitalized in Florida with pneumonia that his lawyer has attributed to toxic exposures after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, is just now applying for coverage under the World Trade Center Health Program.

Giuliani, 81, was hospitalized on May 3. His spokesperson, Ted Goodman, said the former New York City mayor was being treated for pneumonia.

Goodman also revealed that Giuliani was previously diagnosed with restrictive airway disease, attributing the octogenarian's illness to his exposure to pollutants at the site of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks when he was serving as mayor.

Michael Barasch, the attorney helping the former New York City mayor with his certification in the WTC Health Program, confirmed that Giuliani is only now applying to participate in the program, a quarter of a century later.

Read more: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2026/05/07/rudy-giuliani-september-11-coverage-pneumonia/89980049007/

[Haggard Celine]

1. Well I hope the idiot gets the treatment he needs.

[BurnDoubt]

2. Hoping he gets the treatment he deserves.

[soldierant]

3. It's npt impossible there's a cpnnection -

but I'd be more likely to believe it if the statement came from a dpctor rather than a ;awyer.

[hlthe2b]

4. Maybe but alcoholism can lead to restrictive lung disease by impairing lung function and increasing

susceptibility to infections. His alcoholism has been well documented. Chronic alcohol use negatively affects respiratory health, potentially causing irreversible damage to the lungs, thereby increasing susceptibility to infections and can have a worse prognosis from pneumonia.

The mechanisms through which alcoholism affects lung health include increases in oxidative stress to the lungs, damaging cells, impairing their function, altering the production of cytokines which impairs immune function and increasing susceptibility to pneumonia.

Worse still, alcoholics have a higher mortality rate from pneumonia due to weakened immune responses as well as to ARDS (Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome)--a potentially deadly complication leading to rapid lung failure.

Can I say with assuredness that he did not suffer exposure to the toxic components from 911? No. But, I can say his alcoholism is likely a major, if not THE MAJOR factor in his lung disease.

[ahnakneemoose]

5. Thank You For This(Your) Erudite Discussional...Appreciations.

[Javaman]

6. narcissist thinks he's going to live forever. nt

[GreatGazoo]

7. Ghouliani unilaterally reopened the entire Wall Street area before any clean up

The Burger King on Wall St reopened with a 4-inch layer of "dust" that was fine ground glass, asbestos, dry wall and human remains on everything in that area.

Tourists were scooping it up in the envelopes that hotels have in the rooms.

He re-opened it quickly and without clean up to show how resilient he was. Now he wants compensation for his own actions that exposed not only him but thousands of other people.

[Vinca]

8. Just put him back in his crypt with an oxygen tank.

[Bengus81]

9. No...his breathing problems are from having his head up Trumps ass

This could become a recognized disease in years to come.......

[mgardener]

10. Ahybody else remember this? I do.

He said, in the first month after the attacks, "The air quality is safe and acceptable." However, in the weeks after the attacks, the United States Geological Survey identified hundreds of asbestos hot spots of debris dust that remained on buildings.

https://www.wnyc.org/story/78448-rudy-giuliani-and-air-quality-after-911-part-1/

I hope he gets exactly what he deserves.

[niyad]

13. Oh, yes, I remember.

[twodogsbarking]

11. Gee, isn't he feeling well?

[Historic NY]

12. Smoking all those fatties didn't seem to bother him

https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/a24787855/rudy-giuliani-12-000-cigars/]

[Rebl2]

14. He's

old and hasn’t been healthy for several years. If he hasn’t gotten pneumonia vaccines that are suggested for those over 70, it’s no wonder he got pneumonia.

[niyad]

15. The same program he spent years disavowing? trying to cap coverage?

The same man who said the air was perfectly safe, evven though it wasn't? The same man who, to prove how safe it was, how brave he was, did not bother wearing a mask? The same man who did not see any need for the cleanup crews to wear masks? The same scum who made millions from the horror with his scum partner bernie kerick?

May he receive everything he deserves.