After Trump Says Carrier Deployment Not Long Enough, Mullen Warns of Risks

After President Donald Trump faced some pushback when he dismissed concerns over the USS Abraham Lincoln’s record-setting deployment, former Joint Chiefs of Staff chair Admiral Mike Mullen warned on Sunday that prolonged time at sea poses serious risks to crew readiness and morale.

Trump told reporters Friday that the aircraft carrier’s more than eight months at sea was "not nearly long enough," pushing back against growing alarm from military families and lawmakers regarding living conditions and mental health aboard the warship following reports that at least two sailors attempted to jump overboard. The U.S. Navy has denied claims of an increase in attempted suicides on board, with a spokesperson for the Navy previously telling Newsweek that "based on information available to the command, we have not identified an increase in reported suicidal ideation or suicide attempts aboard the ship."

"It's significant, and it's tough. Those deployments are very, very difficult," Mullen said on ABC News' This Week. "Historically, we've been able to typically go to a port to take a break, do maintenance, and then come back online. Even back in Vietnam, a timeframe we did that."

When asked by host Martha Raddatz what he thought about Trump's statement on Friday, Mullen responded: "We focused on mental health. For the last 20, 25 years coming through the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and all the services have done that. And there are always challenges with that. Even in some of the most benign environments. So, I'm sure that the chain of command has addressed that issue."

He added: "The deployments, we learned in Vietnam, we deployed for a year at a time there. That's just too long. You wear yourself out. You actually start to cash in future readiness significantly. These ships, these people, these families need to basically come back, figure out how to get ready for the next post, but it takes time to do that...So there's a sacrifice of the future, which we're eating now as well, particularly with the capability that we've got."

The remarks highlight mounting scrutiny over the toll the extended mission has taken on the approximately 5,000 sailors and Marines aboard the carrier, which has operated for more than 200 consecutive days without a port call.

Meanwhile, the Pentagon has strongly disputed many of the allegations. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said reports about conditions on the vessel were "completely misrepresented," while U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) rejected claims circulated by Iranian media concerning unrest and deaths. CENTCOM pointed to high reenlistment rates and emphasized that the ship continues to operate effectively.

Newsweek reached out to the Navy for comment through its online portal Sunday after being referred by the Pentagon.

USS Abraham Lincoln, left, the air-defense destroyer HMS Defender and the guided-missile destroyer USS Farragut transit the Strait of Hormuz with the guided-missile cruiser USS Leyte Gulf on November 19, 2019. | Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Zachary Pearson/U.S. Navy via AP, FileRead Less

A Record-Setting Deployment

A typical U.S. Navy aircraft carrier deployment lasts about six months, though operational demands frequently prompt extensions.

The USS Abraham Lincoln departed San Diego in November and was originally scheduled to return in May before being redirected to support operations connected to the Iran war. Some lawmakers have described the stretch as a modern-era record for continuous time at sea by a U.S. aircraft carrier.

Military experts note that port visits provide vital opportunities for crews to rest and recharge. Extended periods without breaks compound stress and complicate morale management.

Representative Don Bacon, a Nebraska Republican and a retired military officer, said officials should acknowledge the strain placed on military families rather than criticize the length of the assignment.

"It is hard on families, we should acknowledge that," Bacon said on CBS News' Face the Nation on Sunday, noting that he served a year-long deployment in Iraq while some Marines and soldiers served for 18 months. He added that thanking troops "for being willing to defend our country and doing these 10-month deployments" would have been "a much more better way of addressing this issue."

The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln is docked during a media tour in Port Klang, on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Conditions Aboard the Ship

Family members and lawmakers have reported deteriorating living conditions, citing shortages of basic hygiene products, mold and mildew in shower facilities, broken toilets, inconsistent hot water, and food supply concerns, alongside mental health challenges among the crew.

Mullen said the reports demand serious attention, though he suggested the reality may be more nuanced.

"From what I could see in the news reports, the conditions on the ship were certainly of great concern," Mullen said, noting he spoke with Admiral Samuel Paparo and Admiral Brad Cooper after their visits to the carrier. He added that leadership has worked to address early issues and that "the truth probably lies somewhere in the middle."

"These are morale issues on a ship, which you really have to focus on," Mullen said, praising the crew's dedication. "And my experiences, these crews will do absolutely everything to make sure the mission goes well. And they clearly have done that on Lincoln."

In a statement on Sunday, Cooper said his time yesterday aboard the Abraham Lincoln was "awe-inspiring."

"I wish every American could see the crew in action," he wrote in part. "You would beam with absolute pride when witnessing their camaraderie, teamwork and resilience. Here's an important fact: Of the U.S. Navy's 11 active aircraft carriers, the Lincoln currently has among the lowest number of cases related to mental health. This doesn't mean that all is perfect."

Lawmakers have pressed for answers. Representative Mike Levin, a California Democrat, said sailors aboard the carrier lacked basic personal supplies and described deteriorating living conditions. Senator Richard Blumenthal, a Connecticut Democrat, called for answers from Pentagon officials following the reports that the ship had gone more than 200 days without a port visit.

Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, is interviewed by Roll Call reporters at the Pentagon, May 1, 2008.

Criticism Mounts Over Deployment Conditions

Trump's remarks on Friday drew criticism from the wife of an officer serving on the Abraham Lincoln, who said the comments were "selfish" and "disconnected from reality."