President Donald Trump dismissed concerns about conditions aboard the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, despite mounting reports of difficult living conditions and calls from lawmakers for an official investigation.
When asked by reporters, Trump said he believed the ship had not been at sea "nearly long enough." He flatly rejected claims that families of the more than 5,000 crew members were worried about their loved ones' wellbeing. When reporters mentioned family concerns, he quickly responded: "No, they're not." Trump added that the aircraft carrier George Washington is already en route to replace the Abraham Lincoln in its Middle East mission.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth backed the president's position, claiming reports about poor conditions aboard the ship were "completely misrepresented." Hegseth stated that "some deployments are longer than others, and I have more respect and appreciation for these sailors than anyone else. What they're doing on the open seas in these complex conditions with fewer port calls – it's amazing."
Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao also responded to the reports, saying there had been no loss of life and that "a small number of mental health cases were handled."
Cao added that meal plans were adjusted during shortages of fresh supplies "without missing a single meal," and accused the media of attempting "to paint our warriors as victims," which he said diverts focus from the main threat. Cao praised the crew's resilience, emphasizing that "there's no doubt our young men and women have been pushed to the edge of their capacity – but they never broke. They are justifiably tired – but never left the fight." The White House chose not to add any statement beyond referring to the president's remarks.
The statements come following investigations by military media outlets that pointed to severe strain among the ship's crew, which has been at sea for nine months and has not made a port call for over 200 days. The reports revealed shortages of hygiene products, problems with running water, and incidents of sailors attempting to jump overboard.
Following these findings, senators from both parties, including Richard Blumenthal and Ruben Gallego, demanded an official investigation be opened. The situation on the aircraft carrier reflects broader strain on the U.S. Navy, which has been forced to extend carrier deployments at sea due to the ongoing conflict with Iran.
Reports detail the deteriorating conditions aboard the aircraft carrier. According to the findings, the crew suffered from shortages of basic hygiene products such as soap and toothpaste. During certain periods, meals were even reduced due to supply difficulties, relying on limited rations that included only half a cup of rice and two tortillas.
Alongside food shortages, serious failures were recorded in the ship's infrastructure and plumbing systems. Reports indicate moldy showers, prolonged lack of hot water, and laundry services shut down for weeks. Sailors were required to work grueling shifts of 12 to 16 hours per day under heavy operational load and without rest days.
The mental distress aboard the ship intensified following the deployment extension and absence of port calls for over 200 consecutive days. The burden and strain led to a sharp decline in crew morale, and reports mentioned incidents in which sailors attempted to jump into the water or threatened to do so.
