American soldier documents the harsh conditions aboard the aircraft carrier: "You expect me to shit here?"
A viral video in which an American sailor shows poor sanitary conditions on the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln is causing a stir in the US. The Navy has not confirmed the authenticity of the footage, but it adds to reports of a prolonged deployment of more than 260 days, shortages of hygiene products, and malfunctions. Trump and Hegseth dismissed the claims, while families and lawmakers demand answers.
A viral video circulating on social media shows a man claiming to be a US Navy sailor documenting poor sanitary conditions on the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln: clogged toilets, stained showers and sinks, and non-functional fixtures. In the video, the sailor says, "Wait until you see the bathrooms" and reacts cynically to recruitment slogans: "Join the Navy, right? Yeah, okay, dude." The Navy has not confirmed the video's authenticity or the sailor's identity, and its original source on TikTok has not been verified. However, the video adds to separate reports by American media outlets about similar malfunctions on the ship. The deployment of the Abraham Lincoln has lasted more than 260 days, over 200 of them without a port visit. Family members of crew members have spoken of long shifts, shortages of hygiene products, laundry malfunctions, plumbing issues, and limited supplies of fresh water and food. Nicole Conrad, a sailor's mother, said her son received half a cup of rice and two tortillas at a meal. Congressman Mike Levin reported "moldy showers, broken toilets, and laundry that didn't work for weeks." President Trump dismissed the claims, saying the ship had not been at sea "even close to long enough." Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth claimed the ship's condition was presented "in a distorted way." Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao said there were no mental health-related deaths. CENTCOM commander Admiral Brad Cooper visited the ship and noted its aircraft had flown more than 10,000 sorties. The ship is expected to return to the US as part of a rotation.