President Donald Trump offered an unexpected update on Rudy Guiliani’s health Friday while hosting a Columbus Day celebration at the White House.
The moment came as Trump began praising prominent Italian Americans when he spotted Andrew Giuliani, the son of the former New York City mayor and longtime Trump ally, in the audience.
“And we have Andrew Giuliani here, who’s the son of Rudy,” Trump said. “He’s the son of Rudy, and Rudy is not feeling well, I understand, but he’ll be well.”
“He’s so tough,” Trump added Friday.
The president did not elaborate further on Giuliani’s condition, but then launched into a forceful defense of his former personal attorney.
“What he went through, what they did to Rudy Giuliani should never be allowed to happen again,” Trump said.
“He was right about everything. He was right. He called it,” Trump said. He then rattled off a laundry list of grievances involving the Russia investigation and Hunter Biden’s business dealings in Ukraine.
“But say hello to your father, okay? Say hello to your father,” Trump told Giuliani as he concluded the exchange.
Trump later praised Giuliani again as he included him among prominent Italian Americans such as Joe DiMaggio, former Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia and Frank Sinatra, whom he called “another friend of mine.”