Rudy Giuliani Says He Only Has “Five Friends Left” After Forgetting to Hang Up With Reporter

The former mayor's bad luck with phones continues

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani arrives to campaign for Republican Senate hopeful Mike Braun on November 3, 2018 in Franklin Township, Indiana. Photo by Aaron P. Bernstein/Getty Images)
Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani arrives to campaign for Republican Senate hopeful Mike Braun on November 3, 2018 in Franklin Township, Indiana. Photo by Aaron P. Bernstein/Getty Images)
Getty Images

Rudy Giuliani’s had bad luck with phones, it seems. Back in October, he butt-dialed an NBC News reporter and was overheard discussing his need for cash. His latest mishap is even more embarrassing: after forgetting to hang up after an interview with a New York Daily News reporter, the former mayor of New York City was overheard saying he only has “five friends left.”

Giuliani failed to end the call after being interviewed by the publication about former Gov. George Pataki’s forthcoming book, which alleges that the former mayor asked him to call off the city’s 2001 mayoral election so he could remain in office in the aftermath of 9/11. “There were people who wanted me to do it,” Giuliani said, still aware he was on the phone at the time. “I thought about it for two days, but I never asked him to do it. I never made the decision to do it.”

Then, according to the publication, he said he had to hang up because he was about to board a flight to LA, but he didn’t hang up the phone and was overheard speaking to someone named Tony, complaining that Pataki was sensationalizing his account of events. “He’s trying to sell a book,” Giuliani said. “Even if we would have had that conversation, it would have been privileged between a mayor and a governor … He’s an honorable guy. I can’t believe he would do that. I just keep getting disappointed. I got about five friends left.”

After eventually hanging up, the Daily News reports that Giuliani called their reporter back 15 minutes later, seemingly unaware that they had spoken earlier.

Subscribe here for our free daily newsletter.

The InsideHook Newsletter.

News, advice and insights for the most interesting person in the room.