Retired Maj. Gen. Randy Manner has accused President Donald Trump and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth of "spewing lies" regarding the conditions and extended deployment of the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Middle East.
Manner’s remarks came in response to reports that U.S. military service members have experienced severe mental health distress and attempted to leave the aircraft carrier due to its prolonged time at sea. Secretary Hegseth had previously stated that such reports were "misrepresented," while President Trump asserted the deployment was "not nearly long enough."
"I will tell you unequivocally that [in] all my 36 years of service, if any Navy chief or non-commissioned officer, or officer, or admiral, or general had ever said those kind of words, they would have been relieved within minutes, and I mean that literally," Manner stated, criticizing the commander-in-chief's remarks.
Manner characterized the comments as demonstrating "continued disdain and disrespect for our military members and for their family," which he deemed unacceptable.
Reports indicate that relatives of those aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln met with acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao to discuss mental health concerns. One spouse reportedly shared that her husband had expressed hopes of not waking up the next morning. The Military Times also reported that several sailors have attempted to jump from the ship.
When asked about the impact of these refutations on military readiness, Manner told CNN, "Absolutely, positively, it negatively impacts morale." He added, "I used to say that the president and the secretary of defense were spewing propaganda. Unfortunately, now they’re actually spewing lies."
Manner suggested that a "good" leader would dispatch a team to assess the situation transparently, rather than dismissing concerns. "This administration wants to say, ‘There’s nothing to see here. All the families are lying. There’s no issues on it,’" he said. "And that is absolutely not the case."
The USS Abraham Lincoln departed San Diego on November 21, 2025, and has since set a record for 240 uninterrupted days at sea. Its deployment, initially scheduled to conclude in May, was extended amid escalating tensions with Iran. The USS George Washington is now being deployed to relieve the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Middle East.