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The USS George Washington Carrier Strike Group arrives in the Middle East to relieve the USS Abraham Lincoln

The US Navy has deployed the George Washington Carrier Strike Group to the Middle East to replace the USS Abraham Lincoln, which has been on an extended deployment for more than 270 days. The George Washington arrived in the CENTCOM area of operations on Wednesday, joining other warships to support ongoing operations against Iran. While the George Washington takes over, the USS Abraham Lincoln is preparing to return home. The carrier has faced significant media scrutiny regarding mental health struggles and supply issues among its 5,000 sailors and Marines. Reports have highlighted deteriorating living conditions and instances of crew members attempting to go overboard. President Trump dismissed the reported concerns, calling the negative coverage "fake news" and stating that the Lincoln is being replaced with a similar ship. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth also criticized the media for misrepresenting the ship's conditions. Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao defended the crew, stating that while the mission demanded an extended deployment, the safety and security of the service members remain the top priority.

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