Rudolph 'Rudy' Giuliani, an attorney and former mayor of New York City, was recently welcomed with a red carpet at the Banja Luka airport during a visit to Republika Srpska.

At a significant rally in the city, he praised the President of Republika Srpska, Milorad Dodik, describing him as 'a very strong and dedicated leader' and emphasized that the United States would be more present in the region than in the past.

Giuliani, 80, known in the media in Republika Srpska as 'one of the best friends of former U.S. President Donald Trump,' was invited by Dodik to participate in political activities ahead of a key court ruling in Sarajevo.

During his visit, he spent substantial time with Dodik and recorded a podcast.

Upon his arrival, Dodik and Giuliani exchanged baseball caps, with Dodik receiving a MAGA cap ('Make America Great Again') and giving Giuliani one that read 'Make Srpska Great Again.' Giuliani wore this cap during the aforementioned rally in Banja Luka.

In an interview with the Banja Luka ATV, Giuliani stated he knows much about Dodik and criticized the Western European stance on religion.

He also made comments about U.S. President Joe Biden, asserting there has never before been such a situation in the White House.

Giuliani's recent public appearances come at a time when he is facing substantial legal and financial challenges.

In early 2022, he was ordered to pay over $148 million in damages to two former election workers in Georgia who sued him for defamation.

These workers claimed he falsely accused them of conspiring to alter the outcome of the 2020 presidential election against Donald Trump.

Following this ruling, Giuliani filed for bankruptcy, claiming nearly $153 million in existing or potential debts, which includes significant tax obligations and legal fees.

In a related professional setback, he lost his license to practice law in New York after the state's appellate court determined he lied when he claimed the 2020 elections were stolen from Trump.

Subsequently, Giuliani was disbarred in Washington, D.C., with the bar association stating that his conduct overshadowed any previous achievements.

Additionally, he faced personal challenges, including selling his Manhattan apartment for $6.5 million amid allegations from a former employee, who claimed he owed her nearly $2 million in unpaid wages and had coerced her into sexual acts—claims he denies.

Giuliani's career, which saw him rise to prominence following the September 11 attacks when he was dubbed 'America's Mayor,' has been marked by a notable decline since his unsuccessful presidential run in 2008. This failure is often cited as a turning point, linked to bouts of depression from which Trump later helped him recover.

As a key supporter in Trump's 2016 campaign, Giuliani continued to advocate for Trump through legal and political means during and after the 2020 election.

His connections to Ukraine during the Trump administration, aimed at uncovering damaging information about Hunter Biden, were pivotal in the first impeachment inquiry against Trump.

This involvement led to an FBI investigation, during which Giuliani's home was searched in 2021, resulting in the seizure of electronic devices, although no charges were filed post-investigation.

In his personal life, Giuliani has been married three times and faced legal challenges pertaining to financial disputes with his ex-wives, including threatening imprisonment over alleged debts.

He gained attention in Serbia during the 2012 election campaign when he visited the Serbian Progressive Party in Belgrade, sharing insights about city governance with Aleksandar Vučić, the then mayoral candidate of Belgrade.