Trump Dismisses Mental Health Concerns Aboard USS Lincoln
Al Jazeera Staff
President Donald Trump has dismissed concerns about living conditions on the USS Abraham Lincoln during its extended deployment, following reports of sailors attempting to jump overboard. The carrier has spent over 250 days at sea without port calls, setting a record for the US Navy.
President Donald Trump has dismissed concerns about living conditions on the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier during its extended deployment linked to the US-Israel war with Iran.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, Trump rejected the notion that families of sailors aboard the ship are worried about their loved ones. “No, they are not worried,” Trump said.
When asked if the carrier had been deployed for too long, Trump responded: “No, no, no, not close enough yet.”
The remarks come after a series of reports this week about supply shortages and psychological stress aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, including accounts of some individuals attempting to jump overboard.
The carrier departed its base in San Diego, California, in November and took part in the military campaign against Venezuela in January, as well as the recent war against Iran.
The deployment was originally scheduled to end in May but has been extended. The ship has spent more than 250 days at sea without port calls, setting a record for the US Navy. More than 5,000 sailors and Marines are living on board.
Several US lawmakers have called for an investigation into conditions on the ship. Democratic Senator Ruben Gallego has also asked the Navy to allow a bipartisan delegation to visit the vessel to assess the situation.
However, the Trump administration has repeatedly denied any deterioration of conditions on the USS Abraham Lincoln.
On Friday, a US official told Al Jazeera that the Navy “has not seen an increase in suicidal ideation or attempts aboard the ship.” The official added that the vessel has five chaplains, a psychologist, a social worker, three behavioral health technicians, and a comprehensive prevention coordinator. There is also a therapy dog on board.
“What military objective?”
While downplaying the length of the deployment, Trump confirmed reports that the carrier will soon be relieved.
“That ship is moving right now or very soon, and it will be replaced by another similar ship,” Trump said on Friday.
In a letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth earlier this week, Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal requested information about conditions on the ship, including the metrics the Navy uses to measure the crew's mental health.
“What military objective does the continued deployment of the Lincoln aim to achieve in Iran, and how does the Department of Defense assess the necessity of maintaining the ship's presence to accomplish that goal?” he asked.
The attention on conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln comes as diplomatic efforts to end the US-Israel initiated war in Iran show no signs of breakthrough. The war began with a US-Israel led attack campaign on February 28.
In June, the US and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities. However, last month, that memorandum collapsed due to a dispute in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for trade.
The subsequent escalation led the US to reimpose a naval blockade on Iranian ports, and Iran tightened traffic through the strait. Iran is now focusing its diplomatic efforts on reaching an agreement with Oman regarding transit routes through the waterway crucial for oil, natural gas, fertilizers, and other goods.
