Democratic lawmakers escalated demands for answers over conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, which has been deployed for nearly nine months and gone more than 200 days without a port call while supporting the war Trump launched against Iran in February. Senator Ruben Gallego said the administration failed to plan for the war or its exit, and warned that dismissive comments from Trump and defense secretary Pete Hegseth could drive service members out of the military. Reports from Navy Times and Stars and Stripes describe multiple attempts by sailors to jump overboard amid the deployment's mental and physical toll.
Hegseth has called the reports of low morale among the carrier's roughly 5,000 sailors and marines 'completely misrepresented,' while Trump said the deployment length is 'not nearly long enough' and claimed families aren't worried. Maryland governor Wes Moore, a veteran, said Trump's response 'pisses me off,' pointedly noting the president never served in uniform himself.
Adm Brad Cooper, who oversees the Iran war, visited the Lincoln and praised its crew as 'high-achieving Americans,' while retired Adm Mike Mullen said conditions had reportedly been addressed and morale improved once sailors were told they were heading home. No return date has been announced.
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