Father of USS Abraham Lincoln sailor criticizes Donald Trump’s ‘forever war’ with Iran, says they’re serving ‘under context that is nothing but lies’
The father of a 20-year-old sailor aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln has criticized President Donald Trump’s war with Iran as a “forever war” as the aircraft carrier’s deployment stretches beyond 265 days.
Serving ‘under context that is nothing but lies’
Jefferson Kelly, of Cincinnati, Ohio, told Newsweek his son eagerly joined the Navy to serve his country and become an engineer. But when the USS Abraham Lincoln was redirected to the Middle East, Kelly said his fears about Trump’s return to the White House were realized.
“I had a feeling that there’s going to be a forever war,” Kelly said. “If there’s going to be any issue, any kind of major engagement or war, they send the aircraft carriers … And that’s exactly what happened.”
Kelly has even offered to take his son’s place as families voice growing concerns over conditions aboard the carrier.
“Yes, they signed up for service. Yes, they signed up for military service. And yes, these things are difficult,” Kelly continued. “The problem is that this is a sign-up and performance of service under context that is nothing but lies.”
The USS Abraham Lincoln left San Diego on November 21, 2025, for an Indo-Pacific deployment before being redirected toward the Middle East in January. The aircraft carrier later supported Operation Epic Fury and the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports following joint U.S.-Israeli attacks against Iran on February 28.
Prolonged deployment
Its roughly 5,000 sailors and Marines have now spent close to nine months deployed, with families reporting supply shortages, plumbing problems, disrupted mail and exhaustion.
Ashley Rogers, the wife of a higher-ranking officer aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, said care packages have faced significant delays.
“Well, the care package took 2.5 months to get there. So that was concerning,” Rogers said. “Now the most recent communications, even with my husband, who snaps into military mode, he just does his job, even he sounds so just defeated and he has a really hard time getting his guys to cooperate and do their jobs.”
Families have also reported shortages of sanitary products, razors and soap.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has called reports about conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln “completely misrepresented.” The Navy maintains sailors have access to clean water and healthy meals and say disrupted supply chains affected resupply efforts.