Trump Accused of 'Disrespect' as Navy Admits 8 USS Lincoln Suicide Attempts
The admission came in a letter from Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao, who insisted mental health support was present on the carrier.
According to a letter from Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao to New York Democratic Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, eight suicide attempts were recorded among the crew of the USS Abraham Lincoln during its deployment to the Middle East. This number is higher than the two incidents reported earlier in the summer. The letter, obtained by Newsweek, was in response to the senator's questions about the deployment's impact on the sailors' mental health and morale.
The USS Lincoln had been at sea for over 260 days, a lengthy deployment that drew criticism. President Donald Trump had dismissed concerns about the deployment, stating it had not been long enough. However, Gillibrand sharply criticized Trump and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, accusing them of disrespecting the service members by dismissing the deteriorating conditions as "fake news".
The letter detailed the mental health resources available on the USS Lincoln, including chaplains, a prevention counselor, psychologists, social workers, behavioral health technicians, and an expeditionary facility dog. The navy emphasized that there was good order and discipline on the vessel, and adequate food supplies. The deployment of the USS Lincoln began on November 21, 2025, with a focus on the Indo-Pacific.
Its route then shifted to the Strait of Malacca and the Indian Ocean, as tensions with Iran escalated. Concerns about the deployment's impact on the crew's mental health and overall well-being grew, leading to more vocal criticism from family members of the sailors.
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