Thomas Loren Friedman is an American political commentator and author, known for his extensive work as a weekly columnist for The New York Times. He has written widely on foreign affairs, global trade, the Middle East, globalization, and environmental issues. Friedman is a three-time Pulitzer Prize winner, receiving awards in 1983 and 1988 for international reporting, and in 2002 for his columns following the September 11th attacks.