President Donald Trump dismissed concerns Friday about conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, which has been deployed for almost nine months, as the United Arab Emirates blamed Iran for attacks on two vessels linked to its state-owned oil company in the Strait of Hormuz.
“Not nearly long enough,” Trump said when asked if the aircraft carrier’s deployment had lasted too long. When told that family members of service members are concerned about conditions on the ship, the president said, “No, they’re not.”
The Lincoln has been deployed since November 2025 and is expected to be replaced in the Middle East by the USS George Washington. The Navy is sending additional counselors and social workers to the ship after families voiced concerns about mental health issues.
Tanker Attacks in the Strait
The UAE’s state-owned oil giant ADNOC said one of its vessels came under attack in the Strait of Hormuz on Friday. The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company confirmed that two of its vessels were attacked while transiting the waterway, with no injuries reported.
UAE presidential adviser Anwar Gargash said the Gulf state would defend its “rights to freedom of navigation” in the Strait of Hormuz. “The repeated targeting of ADNOC tankers will not deter the UAE from pursuing a balanced and prudent policy,” he wrote on X.
Saudi Arabia condemned the attacks, accusing Iran of being the perpetrator. The UK Maritime Trade Operations reported two identical incidents of drone strikes on tankers in Hormuz, causing minor damage but no casualties.
Iran’s Response
Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi responded to Trump’s declaration that the strait would become “a territory of the United States,” writing on X: “The strait cannot be seized by tweet, nor by aircraft carrier, nor by issuing an order. Iran neither fears threats nor cowers before displays of power.”
Iran’s naval commander said Tehran has “complete and decisive” control over the Strait of Hormuz. “No activity in the Strait of Hormuz escapes the watch of the IRGC Navy’s fighters,” Rear Admiral Ali Azmaei said.
The USS Lincoln Concerns
Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao said there have been a small number of mental health cases on the Lincoln that were treated with no loss of life. “There is no question our young men and women have been pushed to their limits—but they have never broken,” he said.
The father of a sailor aboard the Lincoln expressed worry for his son and the rest of the crew. “They should not be deployed this long,” said Jefferson Kelley, whose son Jackson is on his first-ever deployment.
CENTCOM called reports about dire conditions aboard the ship “false,” saying service members “remain resilient and resolved after more than 260 days at sea, 10,000 aircraft flights, and 1.5 million pounds of ordnance expended.”
The Bottom Line
President Trump dismissed concerns about the USS Abraham Lincoln’s nine-month deployment, saying it is “not nearly long enough.” The UAE blamed Iran for attacks on two of its oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s deputy foreign minister responded to Trump’s declaration that the strait would become US territory, saying it “cannot be seized by tweet.” The USS George Washington is headed to the Middle East to relieve the Lincoln as the conflict continues.
