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President Donald Trump dismissed worries about sailors on the USS Abraham Lincoln, which has been deployed at sea for nearly nine months—a record-breaking duration. During remarks to journalists before departing for New York, Trump stated the extended deployment was “not nearly long enough,” contradicting growing concerns among military families and lawmakers about conditions aboard the aircraft carrier.
The carrier, which supports U.S. operations against Iran, currently houses approximately 5,000 sailors and marines facing significant strain. Multiple reports have documented mental health crises among crew members, including several documented cases of sailors attempting to jump overboard. Families expressed deep distress during a recent town hall meeting in San Diego, with some service members expressing suicidal thoughts to loved ones.
Pentagon leadership, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, has pushed back against criticism, characterizing negative accounts as misrepresentations. Officials acknowledged supply chain disruptions and stated they had prioritized food, hygiene items, and mail distribution. However, they declined to release specific mental health data, citing security and privacy concerns.
The Lincoln is expected to be replaced by the USS George Washington, which recently departed Vietnamese waters. Despite the mounting concerns from Democratic lawmakers and military families calling for accountability, the Trump administration has provided no timeline for winding down operations or clarifying long-term deployment plans.
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Originally reported by Theguardian →
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