WASHINGTON (AURN News) — President Donald Trump dismissed concerns from families of sailors aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln as the aircraft carrier’s extended Middle East deployment stretches into its ninth month amid reports of sailors attempting to go overboard.
“Family members of U.S. service members are concerned about the conditions aboard the USS Lincoln,” a reporter said.
“No, that ship is moving. 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.
After nine months at sea with no clear end date, families are raising concerns about conditions aboard the carrier, including reports of sailors attempting to go overboard. But Trump dismissed those concerns when pressed by reporters.
The Lincoln’s roughly 5,000 sailors and Marines have been deployed since Nov. 21, with the carrier’s Middle East mission extended because of the war with Iran.
Rep. Mike Levin, D-Calif., said families have described moldy showers, broken toilets, weeks without hot water and meals reduced to half a cup of rice and two tortillas. At least one sailor went overboard earlier this month and was recovered by helicopter, according to CNN.
The Pentagon says the USS George Washington is on the way to replace the carrier. But for many families, the relief is not soon enough.
Click play to listen to the report from AURN White House Correspondent Ebony McMorris. For more news, follow @E_N_McMorris & @aurnonline.
