U.S. Defense Secretary Visits USS Lincoln, Criticizes Negative Media Coverage
U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin boarded the USS Lincoln on the 7th, criticizing the media for negative reports about the ship, stating that some media outlets portray the aircraft carrier as a symbol of "disability," "low morale," and "mission failure," which is not true.
Previously, it was reported that the USS Lincoln's crew morale had declined due to the high-intensity operational tempo against Iran and harsh living conditions, with several individuals experiencing mental breakdowns and attempting to jump overboard.
According to AFP, the ship departed in November 2025 and did not dock in Thailand until September 2026. The Pentagon stated that the USS Lincoln set a record for deployment without docking for over 260 consecutive days. (Reporter: Wang Pei)
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin boarded the USS Abraham Lincoln on December 7, 2023, to criticize negative media portrayals of the ship. He stated that claims of low morale and mission failure among the crew are inaccurate. The USS Abraham Lincoln has been deployed for over 260 days without docking and is expected to dock in Thailand in September 2026.
- U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin boarded the USS Abraham Lincoln on December 7.
- Austin criticized media reports depicting the ship negatively.
- The USS Abraham Lincoln has been deployed for over 260 days without docking.
- Reports indicated low morale among crew members due to operational conditions.
- The ship is scheduled to dock in Thailand in September 2026.