Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani has come under fire for saying September 11, 2001, the day terrorists flew planes into the twin towers of the World Trade Center, was “in a way… the greatest day of my life”.
Giuliani, 78, made the comments just days before the 21st anniversary of the attacks, speaking to Newsmax on Friday morning.
“The feelings are … complex feelings. I think the best way to describe it is that it was the worst day of my life and in some ways the greatest day of my life in terms of my city, my country, my family.
“It was the worst foreign attack on this country since the War of 1812. It came as a complete surprise. It was an attack on completely innocent people and I’ve seen it firsthand,” he added.
Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani has come under fire for saying September 11, 2001, the day terrorists flew planes into the twin towers of the World Trade Center, was “in a way…the greatest.” day of my life”.
Giuliani made the comments just days before the 21st anniversary of the attacks, while speaking to Newsmax
“The full clip is actually worse than the snippet,” Maggie Haberman, the New York Times’ White House correspondent, tweeted
His words were immediately met with sharp reactions on social media.
“The full clip is actually worse than the snippet,” Maggie Haberman, the New York Times’ White House correspondent, tweeted.
Other Twitter users didn’t hold back in their mockery of Giuliani.
“Giuliani should never be allowed to talk about 9/11 again!!! Like forever!!!! Disgusting opportunistic traitor!’ tweeted one.
“Rudy you just shredded what you should have been admired for,” wrote another.
New York Gov. George Pataki, left, New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, center, and Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton are pictured September 12, 2001 – a day after the terrorist attacks
Giuliani earned the nickname “America’s Mayor” after leading New York City after the attacks. President Bush, center, Giuliani, left, and then-New York Gov. George Pataki, second from left, Senator Charles Schumer, DN.Y., second from right, and New York Fire Department Commissioner Thomas Van Essen, right, look toward the collapsed building
Twitter users didn’t hold back in ridiculing Giuliani for his comments
“Rudy Giuliani, for nearly 3,000 Americans, including Pentagon employees, 9/11 was not the greatest day of their lives. Especially their surviving family members and friends,” wrote Ken Gordon.
Giuliani has previously spoken of 9/11 as the “greatest day,” and last year, on the 20th anniversary, said something similar.
“It was the worst day in my city’s history…and it was the greatest day, a day of tremendous heroism.”
In the days following the attacks, Giuliani was hailed as “America’s Mayor” for his leadership of New York City.
Sunday marks the 21st anniversary of the attacks, which killed nearly 3,000 people, including about 2,750 in New York.
At one point, Giuliani had been viewed as the dominant figure in US politics. He is pictured in June
At one point, Giuliani had been viewed as the dominant figure in US politics.
He initially did well in his 2016 bid for president before his campaign stalled and he was eventually eliminated after the Florida Republican primary.
Last year, Giuliani, who served as Donald Trump’s personal attorney during part of his presidency, had his license to practice law in New York and Washington DC temporarily suspended after he made fraudulent claims that Trump won the 2020 election.
He spread baseless conspiracy theories about the election and also served to anger the crowd outside the US Capitol on January 6, 2021.
A hearing will be held next month to determine if he can resume practicing law in the city.