US President Donald Trump has dismissed concerns over the prolonged deployment of the USS Abraham Lincoln, saying its more than eight-month mission at sea was “not nearly long enough”, even as CNN reported the concerns among sailors and their families over conditions aboard the US aircraft carrier.
According to the CNN report, sailors aboard the Lincoln, which has been deployed continuously for more than 240 days, have complained about low morale, shortages of food and hygiene supplies, and problems with water and sanitation systems.
Asked Friday whether the deployment had gone on too long, Trump said, “No, no, no. Not nearly long enough.”
“That ship is moving right now, or very shortly, and it’s being replaced with another very similar ship,” Trump said, according to Reuters and the Associated Press.
CNN, citing sailors and their families, reported that morale aboard the Lincoln was low after months at sea.
One sailor told the outlet that toilets and water fountains had frequently been out of service, and that hot water was often unavailable.
“Every day we wake up and listen to our Captain speak, we are desperately hoping and anxious for updates on our return,” the sailor told CNN.
Another sailor said some items from the ship’s store had become subject to limits and that “hardly any hygiene products are readily available.”
Families of sailors also said care packages could take months to arrive or sometimes go missing.
One sailor’s wife said her husband had described the deployment as the worst he had experienced.
The US Navy has pushed back against reports of worsening mental health conditions aboard the carrier.
“We have not observed an increase in suicidal ideations or attempts aboard the ship. We take every service member’s well-being seriously and have religious, medical and mental health professionals available to assess and address concerns as they arise,” the Navy told CNN.
The report added that two sailors assigned to the Lincoln strike group had gone overboard in recent months and were rescued alive. One sailor went overboard in early August and was later transferred off the ship for follow-up care, according to a Navy official cited by the Associated Press.
The Navy has not publicly released data showing whether mental health incidents have increased aboard the carrier.
Trump’s comments came as reports claimed that the pressures of the prolonged deployment.
The president said the Lincoln’s mission was “not nearly long enough” and indicated that another carrier would replace it.
Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth also pushed back against reports about conditions aboard the ship, describing them as “completely misrepresented”, Reuters and the Associated Press reported.
The USS Lincoln has been deployed for more than eight months, well beyond the Navy’s traditional target of about seven months at sea.
The USS George Washington is expected to replace the Lincoln in West Asia.
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