Trump says USS Lincoln’s deployment was ‘not nearly long enough’ | CNN Politics

President Donald Trump on Friday dismissed claims that families of service members aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln have concerns about conditions aboard the aircraft carrier, which has been deployed for nearly nine months supporting operations in the Middle East. Instead, Trump claimed the ship’s lengthy deployment had in fact not been long enough. “No, they’re not,” Trump said when asked by reporters at Joint Base Andrews about relatives of those aboard the ship expressing worry about mental health and living conditions for their relatives. He said the Lincoln was moving out of the region soon, and would be replaced by “another, very similar, ship.” But asked whether the Lincoln’s eight-and-a-half months at sea was too long, Trump claimed the opposite was true. “No, no, no. Not nearly long enough,” he said before turning abruptly to board Air Force One. Several Democratic lawmakers are calling for answers after concerns were raised by families of sailors aboard the Lincoln about the deteriorating living conditions and worsening mental health during the ship’s record-breaking deployment. Since the Lincoln left its home port of San Diego last November, the aircraf