Giuliani Breathing on His Own After 9/11-Linked Hospitalization

Rudy Giuliani is breathing on his own after being taken off a ventilator by Tuesday, a sharp turn after the 81-year-old former New York City mayor was hospitalized with severe breathing issues. He is also able to speak and remains in critical but stable condition.

Dr. Maria Ryan said Giuliani began feeling ill after returning from a trip to Paris, and his breathing worsened until he needed hospital care and a ventilator. Ryan said a priest was called to his bedside to perform last rites, then added, “He’s a fighter — the way he was yesterday in such a critical condition, he did have a priest come anoint him” and “And all the prayers from around — it’s like a miracle. This guy’s got 9 lives, today he’s doing much better.”

Maria Ryan on Giuliani

Ryan described Giuliani’s condition in an interview with correspondent Danamarie McNicholl and said she expects him to make a full recovery. Her account places the focus on how quickly his breathing deteriorated before the ventilator was removed, and on the fact that he was well enough by Tuesday to speak for himself again.

Ted Goodman said Giuliani is now “breathing on his own” and remains in “critical but stable condition.” Goodman also called him “the ultimate fighter” in a video shared on X. The change is a clear improvement from the period when Giuliani was sick enough that doctors called for last rites.

Sept. 11, 2001 exposure

A spokesperson pointed to Giuliani’s health history after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, when he was exposed to debris while responding at Ground Zero. He was later diagnosed with restrictive airway disease. That background helps explain why this hospitalization drew immediate attention beyond the brief update on his breathing.

Giuliani has faced a number of health challenges in recent years while remaining active in public life. For now, the next meaningful development is whether his condition continues to improve from critical but stable status to a full discharge plan, after a day that already took him off a ventilator and back to speaking on his own.