Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani has emerged from a coma and is “talking” and “alert” as he remains hospitalized in Florida while recovering from pneumonia, longtime friend and billionaire businessman John Catsimatidis said Monday.
Catsimatidis said he got the update Monday afternoon from a close former aide to the 81-year-old ex-“America’s mayor.”
“He’s talking, he’s alert. To me, that’s great news,” Catsimatidis told reporters.
Giuliani’s weekend hospitalization came after he was stricken with a respiratory illness, according to his business partner Tom von Essen, who served as New York City fire commissioner during 9/11.
“Rudy had a tough weekend. He had pneumonia,” von Essen told The Post, calling Monday “an important day” in Giuliani’s recovery.
Giuliani spokesman Ted Goodman confirmed the former mayor is recovering from pneumonia and is now breathing on his own, with family and his primary medical provider at his side.
“Mayor Giuliani is the ultimate fighter, as he has demonstrated throughout his life, and he is winning this battle,” Goodman said.
Another source close to Giuliani said he was “alert and breathing on his own,” adding: “Today was a good day and tomorrow should be even better, barring any unforeseen setbacks.”
Giuliani’s doctor, Maria Ryan, echoed the praise, calling him a “fighter,” while adding he “did have a priest come anoint him.”
“And all the prayers from around — it’s like a miracle. This guy’s got 9 lives, today he’s doing much better,” Ryan told Fox News.
Goodman said Giuliani’s illness is tied to a condition stemming from his experience as mayor during the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks.
“On September 11th, Mayor Giuliani ran toward the towers to help those in need, which led to a restrictive airway disease diagnosis,” Goodman said.
“This disease adds complications to any emerging respiratory issue, and the virus quickly overwhelmed his body, requiring mechanical ventilation to maintain his blood pressure.”
The latest update capped a whirlwind day after it became public Sunday that Giuliani, a close ally of President Trump, was in critical but stable condition.
Donald Trump led a chorus of well-wishers, and by Monday, even New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani was offering support.
“Absolutely, I’m wishing strength and recovery to former Mayor Rudy Giuliani and his loved ones during this difficult time. And I hope that his recovery is steady, and I hope that his family finds peace in one another during this time,” Mamdani said at an unrelated press conference.
“I think former Mayor Giuliani is someone that we, as New Yorkers, know well, and he’s been a fixture in our city’s politics and public life for so many years, and I know that many New Yorkers are concerned by reports he is in critical condition and so we do keep him and his family in our prayers at this time,” he added.
Former Gov. George Pataki told The Post Giuliani had been expected to attend a charity event Thursday.
“I was looking forward to seeing him … and being able to talk at length,” Pataki said. “I haven’t talked to him in a few months.”
“We were great partners for the city and the state for seven years together, and we were able to just do a tremendous amount to make the city and state a better place by working together,” Pataki said.
“So obviously now we just hope he gets better,” he added.
Pataki said it was “just a shock” to learn Giuliani was hospitalized.
“You just take for granted that figures that have such a large profile in our state and our country will be around for a long time,” he said.
WABC radio host Dominic Carter, offering his own well-wishes at a Catsimatidis media scrum, said, “History is going to judge Rudy Giuliani as the greatest mayor of New York City ever.”
Catsimatidis was also asked about how his friendship with Giuliani endured even after the former mayor sued him following his departure from WABC.
“Friends for 40 years, brothers for 40 years,” Catsimatidis said.
“Do brothers have arguments? Of course, we did. We kissed and made up.”
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