Hegseth calls conditions aboard USS Abraham Lincoln 'completely misrepresented'

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Thursday claimed that conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier have been "completely misrepresented" following reports that sailors, struggling with low morale during a grueling deployment, have attempted to jump overboard. Speaking with Newsmax, Hegseth did not directly address reports of supply shortages, water contamination and deteriorating mental health on the Abraham Lincoln, nor did he say when the vessel would return stateside after leaving San Diego in November. "Listen, we make sure that every ship, every crew, every captain has everything we can provide them at every single moment," the Defense secretary said. "Some deployments are longer than others, and I have more respect and gratitude for those sailors than anybody. What they do in those high seas and those austere conditions with less port calls, it's incredible." Hegseth added that he wants the service members "home as soon as everybody else" does. "My commanders know that, our service secretaries know that, [President Trump] expects that," he said. The Pentagon has come under scrutiny over the Abraham Lincoln's deployment after families of those serving on the ship last week told Navy leadership that several sailors have tried to jump overboard or have been prevented from doing so in recent months. Navy officials have denied an increase in suicide attempts on the ship. The reports prompted Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, to write a letter to Hegseth and acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao to express "serious concerns" about the aircraft carrier's extended deployment. "The Lincoln is not an isolated case. Recent carrier deployments have repeatedly stretched beyond their original anticipated durations, suggesting that extended deployments may be becoming a feature rather than an exception of the Navy's force-generation model," Blumenthal wrote. And Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) on Thursday called for more scrutiny of the conditions aboard the Abraham Lincoln, demanding an official, bipartisan visit to the carrier. "It's clear [Donald Trump,] who avoided active duty himself, couldn't care less about the health and safety our service members. Congress needs to do its job and hold this administration accountable," Gallego posted on the social platform X. Morale is reportedly low aboard the Abraham Lincoln as its roughly 5,000 service members have hit more than 250 consecutive days at sea and at least 40 days of continuous combat operations in support of the Iran war. The aircraft carrier was redirected to the Middle East in January after leaving San Diego for a Pacific deployment. The ship was originally scheduled to return in May, but there is no publicly announced return date.