US President Donald Trump and US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth downplayed concerns regarding the well-being of sailors deployed on the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier on Friday after reports claimed that distressed service members had tried to jump overboard due to poor conditions.
Trump asserted that the over-260-day deployment was “not nearly long enough” when asked by reporters if he believed the deployment had gone on too long.
“That ship is moving right now or very shortly, and it's being replaced with another very similar ship,” he continued, speaking to the media before boarding Air Force One on Friday.
Hegseth took to social media to criticize the allegations of low morale and poor conditions on the USS Abraham Lincoln, labelling outlets that have reported on the matter as “fake, America-hating news.”
“The reckless and shameless ‘American’ media completely and intentionally misrepresent the USS Abraham Lincoln,” Hegseth claimed in a post on X/Twitter on Friday.
He asserted that sailors aboard the ship are proud of their deployment and “embody resilience and excellence.”
Senator Blumenthal calls for formal inquiry into complaints
US Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Connecticut), a veteran who served in the US Marine Corps Reserve, on Thursday demanded that the Trump administration explain what measures are being taken to support the sailors and why the USS Abraham Lincoln’s deployment was extended beyond the originally scheduled seven months.
In a letter to Hegseth and Acting US Navy Secretary Hung Cao, Blumenthal cited reports of water contamination, plumbing issues, and shortages of basic supplies, among other concerns raised by sailors aboard the aircraft carrier, as reasons for a formal inquiry into the matter.
“The men and women aboard the Lincoln have answered the call to serve their country. The Department owes them… adequate supplies, maintenance, and support during this deployment,” he asserted.
Blumenthal asked that the US Navy provide answers to his inquiry before August 27.
Acting Navy secretary, CENTCOM deny reports of poor conditions
Cao, in a statement released on Friday, also denied the reports of poor conditions and asserted that the USS Abraham Lincoln and sailors aboard will return home shortly as part of a planned rotation.
He acknowledged how difficult deployment can be for sailors, vowing that “the safety and security of Sailors and Marines always comes first” for the Navy.
Cao continued to claim that the allegations are dishonest and “take away the focus on the enemy and the threat it poses against our nation, people, and way of life.”
US Central Command (CENTCOM) similarly denied the reports regarding sailors’ concerns, labelling them as “rampant misreporting” and a disservice to US service members.
Miriam Sela-Eitam and Esther David contributed to this report.