CHICAGO (WLS) — Former Ambassador and Mayor Rahm Emanuel established a new ROTC scholarship Monday.
And he’s naming it after former Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Lisa Franchetti, who was fired by the Trump administration.
ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch
The news was delivered at Rickover Naval Academy located on the Northwest Side, where former Admiral Franchetti was present to award the scholarships bearing her name.
She stayed out of the political fray, but former Ambassador Emanuel had no qualms stepping into it.
For a dozen CPS graduates from the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps, this was a momentous occasion. They had the chance to shake hands with the admiral, who recently led the Navy, and received a scholarship check from Emanuel providing $10,000 annually for college expenses.
The Admiral Lisa Franchetti ROTC scholarship was born out of a meeting Emanuel had with her while serving as ambassador to Japan.
“This scholarship is set to transform lives and give these students the opportunity to follow their dreams of serving our great nation,” stated Franchetti.
RELATED: Program to train hospital staff to help domestic violence survivors in Chicago area
In February, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth removed Franchetti as chief of Naval Operations without giving a reason.
Emanuel admitted his decision to name the scholarship after Franchetti was a political shot at the Trump administration, which has frequently criticized diversity, equity and inclusion.
“If I said no, it wouldn’t be honest. If I said it was the only reason, I also wouldn’t be honest,” Emanuel said. “The way they let her go after 40 years of strikes force, leading the Navy firsthand, that’s not the way to end somebody’s 40-year career.”
Franchetti took no questions, and made no mention of her firing while addressing the students.
“And I can tell you, looking back 40 years later, I can honestly say it was the journey of a lifetime,” Franchetti said.
“Admiral Franchetti has many other things she’ll contribute to the country and many other chapters to write. This was my way of making sure that that wasn’t the last chapter in the last wave that was written,” Emanuel said.
As for Emanuel’s next chapter, that remains to be written.
“I’m not ready to make that decision, but I am laser-like focus on the singular thing that I think matters, which is, it’s not an accident, in my view, that our politics became unstable as soon as the American dream became unaffordable,” Emanuel said.
Emanuel gave no clues as to when he will announce his next political plans. But he continues to keep his name out there, trying to remain relevant until he does.
Copyright © 2025 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.
