Trump says record USS Lincoln deployment 'not nearly long enough'
President Donald Trump reacted to reports of poor conditions on the USS Abraham Lincoln on Friday, claiming that families of service members are "not" concerned and saying that the vessel hasn't been deployed for "nearly long enough."
The president also confirmed that a new aircraft carrier is headed to the Middle East to replace it during a very brief gaggle with reporters on the tarmac at Joint Base Andrews Friday afternoon.
"That ship is moving," Trump said when a reporter brought up the USS Lincoln.
A U.S. official told ABC News on Thursday that the aircraft carrier USS George Washington, which is homeported in Japan, will replace the Lincoln as part of a long-planned rotation of ships and has begun heading toward the Middle East.
The aircraft carrier's movements come amid reports of mental health and supply issues aboard the USS Lincoln, whose long deployment to the Middle East in support of the Iran war includes a record-setting time at sea of more than 200 days. Navy leaders, including the Navy's acting Secretary Hung Cao, last week held a heated town hall for families of the USS Lincoln who had raised concerns about the conditions on the ship.
When a reporter on Friday said that family members of people aboard that ship are concerned about the conditions, Trump interjected to suggest that they are "not" actually worried.
"No, they're not. That ship is moving right now, or very shortly, and it's being replaced with another very similar ship," Trump said.
When pressed by a reporter about whether the deployment of the USS Abraham Lincoln has gone on for too long, Trump said not that it hasn't gone on "nearly long enough."
"No, no, not nearly long enough," Trump said.
