Rudy Giuliani: 'Compared to Biden and Pelosi, I'm a phenom'


Here's a statement you don't hear from a close associate of the president of the United States every day.
"I am a high functioning human being able to outwork people half my age," Rudy Giuliani, President Trump's personal attorney, told New York Magazine in a piece published Monday. "Compared to Biden and Pelosi, I'm a phenom."
This statement came in response to a story focusing on how Giuliani's phone usage continues to baffle reporters, who question not only his frequent accidental calls, but also his tendency to send messages apparently meant for someone else or like his own texts, including ones sent a full day prior; in one case, he even disliked one of his own messages.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"He once liked a question I sent him about him being accused of illegal lobbying, and then he didn't respond to the question about lobbying," a confused reporter recounted. Another reporter recalled, "I remember one time he gave his own text a thumbs-down but then promptly switched it to a thumbs-up."
The piece also addresses questions over whether there has been "some kind of decline" on Giuliani's part, prompting this "high functioning human being" response from him, as well as denials from Giuliani associates. "I have to tell you, in sitting with him and going through these details, names, times, places, all the stuff that he has collected since last year, I can tell you he doesn't miss a beat," former NYPD commissioner Bernard Kerik said. "There is no decline."
With one a self-declared "very stable genius" and another a self-declared "high functioning human being," Trump and Giuliani may be a match made in heaven.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
September 1 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Monday’s political cartoons include Labor Day picnic, branding strategy, and more
-
What is Tony Blair's plan for Gaza?
Today's Big Question Former PM has reportedly been putting together a post-war strategy 'for the past several months'
-
When does autumn begin?
The Explainer The UK is experiencing a 'false autumn', as climate change shifts seasonal weather patterns
-
RFK Jr. names new CDC head as staff revolt
Speed Read Kennedy installed his deputy, Jim O'Neill, as acting CDC director
-
DC prosecutors lose bid to indict sandwich thrower
Speed Read Prosecutors sought to charge Sean Dunn with assaulting a federal officer
-
White House fires new CDC head amid agency exodus
Speed Read CDC Director Susan Monarez was ousted after butting heads with HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. over vaccines
-
DOGE put Social Security data at risk, official says
Speed Read DOGE workers made the personal information of hundreds of millions of Americans vulnerable to identity theft
-
Court rejects Trump suit against Maryland US judges
Speed Read Judge Thomas Cullen, a Trump appointee, said the executive branch had no authority to sue the judges
-
Trump expands National Guard role in policing
Speed Read The president wants the Guard to take on a larger role in domestic law enforcement
-
Trump says he's firing Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook
Speed Read The move is likely part of Trump's push to get the central bank to cut interest rates
-
Abrego released from jail, faces Uganda deportation
Speed Read The wrongly deported Kilmar Abrego García is expected to be detained at an ICE check-in and deported to Uganda