Trump dismisses reports on USS Lincoln conditions

President Donald Trump dismissed reports of severe shortages and poor living conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln as "fake news" on Monday, contradicting accounts from sailors and military families about the aircraft carrier's record-breaking deployment. Speaking in the Oval Office, Trump insisted the ship was "beautifully maintained" and "beautifully taken care of," citing reassurances from an unnamed retired admiral he spoke with over the weekend.

The comments came as the Lincoln, a nuclear-powered carrier based in San Diego, passed more than 250 days at sea without a port call, a modern record for a U.S. carrier. The vessel departed San Diego on November 21, 2025, and has spent the majority of its deployment in the Persian Gulf region amid the ongoing conflict with Iran. Standard Navy deployments typically last about six months.

Multiple news outlets, including Navy Times, Stars and Stripes, and CNN, have published accounts from sailors describing fresh food shortages that forced reliance on tuna, corn dogs, and other non-perishables for months. Reports also detail mold, plumbing failures, unusable bathrooms, and rationed showers. Family members have expressed grave...