In a stunning move, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is going after the families of service members who have started complaining about longer-than-usual deployments in the Middle East, especially aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln.
That as CNN reports at least one sailor has jumped overboard trying to escape what relatives have described as “deteriorating living conditions and worsening mental health” on the Nimitz-class carrier.
The Lincoln has been on a record-long deployment of more than 250 days since before President Donald Trump and Hegseth launched an unapproved and deadly war on Iran in late February.
Relatives have contacted their lawmakers, who are now demanding an investigation into conditions aboard the ship.
Instead of addressing the issues surrounding such a long deployment, he told reporters Thursday that the media had “completely misrepresented” family members’ concerns.
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The Lincoln first left San Diego almost nine months ago and is now setting a record for the longest continuous deployment of an aircraft carrier in modern history.
“Listen. We make sure that every ship, every crew, every captain has everything we can provide them at every single moment,” Hegseth insisted, before dodging the question.
“Some deployments are longer than others, and I have more respect and gratitude for those sailors than anybody. What they do on those high seas and those austere conditions with less port calls, it’s incredible,” he hedged.
“Americans don’t understand what it’s like to do that,” he added.
Social media wasn’t buying Hegseth’s dodge-and-distract tactic, either, erupting into outrage and anger over his leadership.
“He’s a despicable piece of sh-t through and through,” a Threads user accused.
This poster agreed. “He should be charged with any deaths related to the conditions on this ship. As the leader in charge, where is all the money that the government keeps giving you with our tax dollars? As we can see it’s not going to the sold[i]ers in War.”
Others piled on, remarking, “They’re jumping off the ship” and “They’ve been out since November.”
This commenter pointed out, “The longest deployment on sea EVER.”
But it didn’t stop there. Another irate Threads user observed, “Horrid conditions. It’s ALL your fault, your vile, repugnant, drug-addicted, alcoholic piece of sh-t.”
This poster nailed it, critics claim: “He follows the Trump strategy: Never admit you’re wrong, never apologize, attack at all times.”
NBC News is now reporting that the Pentagon finally plans to replace the Lincoln, one of two aircraft carriers in the Persian Gulf supporting Trump’s war on Tehran, with a third vessel.
In the meantime, officials have said the sailor on the Lincoln who jumped overboard earlier this month suffered a mental health episode, CNN reported, and was wearing a lifejacket.
He escaped the incident without injury, and officials transferred him off the ship for further medical evaluation.
