President Donald Trump downplayed reports about conditions on the USS Abraham Lincoln to reporters in the Oval Office on Monday, while members of San Diego’s Democratic congressional delegation called for an independent review of the Lincoln crew’s lengthy deployment.
The San Diego-based aircraft carrier has been the subject of escalating concern over mental health and supply issues for American sailors enduring a record-setting uninterrupted time at sea of more than 240 days. Trump said a retired, unnamed, admiral assured him that the Lincoln is “beautifully maintained and beautifully taken care of.”
Trump: concerns about conditions on USS Lincoln are ‘fake’
Trump downplayed reports about conditions on the USS Abraham Lincoln to reporters in the Oval Office. The aircraft carrier has been the subject of escalating concern over mental health and supply issues for American sailors enduring nearly nine months at sea.
Trump called it a “good period of time” but added that “over the years, we’ve had them out there much longer.”
But Trump said he spoke with the retired admiral, who he did not name, over the weekend who recounted being on ships for “much longer.”
Trump also discussed the Strait of Hormuz and relations with South and North Korea during the Oval Office discussion.
Peters and California senators send letter seeking Lincoln review
Most of San Diego County’s congressional representatives, including Scott Peters, Sara Jacobs, Mike Levin and Juan Vargas, along with California senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff, are calling on the Department of Defense’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) seeking information on the USS Lincoln’s long deployment.
The ship left San Diego in late November 2025.
In the letter, sent Monday, the group asked the Inspector General to “undertake an independent review of the processes, rationale, and decisions surrounding the extended deployment of the San Diego-homeported USS Abraham Lincoln and Carrier Strike Group 3 (CSG-3).”
They cited “credible reports of food shortages, unsanitary conditions, and a lack of other essential supplies” and said “an independent review would identify where replenishment capacity and logistics routing failed to meet the demands placed on our servicemembers.”
The lawmakers noted what they called “Secretary of Defense (Pete) Hegseth’s inadequate explanations regarding the reported conditions” aboard the Lincoln and also asked the Inspector General to determine how “the extended deployment (will) affect the strike group’s future readiness.”
Ultimately, they add, “an independent review and recommendations for improvement would identify what happened and provide us with oversight tools to ensure the wellbeing of our constituents and safeguard our Navy.”
US Central Command chief visited aircraft carrier
Adm. Brad Cooper visited the USS Lincoln, which has been supporting Trump’s war against Iran, including the blockade on Iranian ports.
Cooper praised the carrier’s leadership on Sunday for making mental health and resilience a priority. His visit followed comments by Trump on Friday that their deployment is “not nearly long enough.”
Top Democrats on the House Oversight Committee have requested a classified briefing on the ship’s situation. Republicans have been less outspoken.
Updated 3:20 p.m. Aug. 17, 2026
