U.S. President Donald Trump has dismissed reports raising concerns about conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, calling the allegations “fake” as the aircraft carrier continues a record-setting deployment in the Middle East.
Trump told reporters that the carrier is “beautifully maintained and beautifully taken care of,” saying a retired admiral had assured him that conditions aboard the ship were good.
The comments come amid growing reports and concerns from lawmakers, military families and others about the wellbeing of sailors serving aboard the carrier. The USS Abraham Lincoln has been deployed at sea for more than 240 days, with its prolonged mission linked to U.S. military operations in the Middle East.
Reports have raised questions about supplies, living conditions and the mental health of personnel aboard the ship. Some lawmakers have called for greater Pentagon accountability over the length and conditions of the deployment.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has also rejected accounts portraying conditions aboard the carrier as severely deteriorated, saying the situation has been misrepresented.
The prolonged deployment comes as the United States maintains a major military presence in the Middle East amid its ongoing conflict with Iran. The Navy is preparing to rotate carriers, with the USS George Washington expected to relieve the Lincoln, although the broader deployment has raised questions about the strain being placed on U.S. naval personnel and resources.
Trump’s dismissal of the reports is likely to intensify debate over military readiness, sailor welfare and the level of transparency surrounding the U.S. military’s extended operations in the region.
Swifteradio.com