President Donald Trump has rejected reports about poor conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, calling concerns about the aircraft carrier a “CNN fake report” as questions grow over the wellbeing of sailors deployed in the Middle East.
Trump Rejects Reports
Trump made the comments on Monday during an exchange with reporters in the Oval Office. After a CNN reporter questioned him, Trump told her to be quiet and accused her of being disrespectful before another journalist asked whether sailors aboard the Lincoln had enough food.
“Yeah, it was a CNN fake report,” Trump said, arguing that the carrier had been deployed for a long time but had remained away from home for longer periods in the past.
Trump said a retired general had told him the Lincoln was “beautifully maintained and beautifully taken care of”. He added that other people had visited the carrier and reached the same conclusion, describing CNN’s coverage as “fake news reporting”.
Democrats Share Food Photo
Democratic members of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee responded on social media by posting a photograph of a meal said to have been served aboard the carrier. The image showed diced carrots, a hamburger patty and what lawmakers described as “a gray slab of processed meat”.
The photograph, which did not carry a caption, was first published by USA Today.
CNN correspondent Pamela Brown reported last week on conditions aboard the Lincoln after an official said a sailor had gone overboard while wearing a vest. The Navy said the incident was considered a mental health episode.
Other recent reports have described problems aboard the aircraft carrier, including moldy showers and spoiled food. They have also reported that several sailors had attempted to jump overboard.
Navy Addresses Mental Health Concerns
Navy leaders have reportedly met with relatives of sailors serving aboard the Lincoln as concerns increased that the lengthy Middle East deployment could worsen mental health conditions and increase the risk of self-harm.
Adm. Brad Cooper, the head of US Central Command, visited the Lincoln on Saturday, a day after acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao announced that the carrier was returning home.
Cooper acknowledged that life aboard an aircraft carrier can be difficult and stressful. In a statement on Sunday, he said mental health should receive attention alongside physical and spiritual health.
He also praised the Lincoln’s leadership, particularly senior enlisted leaders, for making mental health and crew resilience a priority.
Long Deployment Draws Scrutiny
The Lincoln had remained deployed in the Middle East for more than 260 days, longer than initially expected. The carrier left San Diego in November as the United States prepared for the war involving Iran.
Retired Adm. Mike Mullen, a former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said on ABC News’s “This Week” on Sunday that he had “great concern” about conditions aboard the ship.
Mullen said the Lincoln’s commanding officer, Capt. Daniel Keeler, was working hard to address the problems. But he added that he believed “the truth probably lies somewhere in the middle.”
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18 August 2026
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