Hegseth Branded Liar for Trashing Navy Horror Whistleblowers

Daniel Heuer / REUTERS Democratic lawmakers are accusing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth of “lying” about conditions on board the USS Abraham Lincoln , the aircraft carrier on extended deployment near Iran.

On Thursday, Arizona Sen.

Ruben Gallego and Massachusetts Rep.

Seth Moulton criticized Hegseth’s comments on the situation, amid reports that several service members tried to jump overboard due to worsening conditions on the ship, including shortages of basic supplies, moldy showers, and long stretches without hot water.

Service members’ mental health is also a concern, their family members have said.

Hegseth on Thursday claimed such reports “completely misrepresented” what’s going on.

“We make sure that every ship, every crew, every captain, has everything we can provide them at every single moment,” Hegseth, 46, told reporters in Panama.

“Some deployments are longer than others, and I have more respect and gratitude for those sailors than anybody.” “As someone who’s not been on a ship like that, but been on long deployments, I feel it,” added Hegseth, who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan while in the Army.

“I want them home as soon as everybody else, too.

I want folks rotated as quickly as possible.

I want the best for them.

My commanders know that, our service secretaries know that, the president expects that, and so to that crew and all crews: We’re going to do everything we can for you, and we are so grateful for that crew and others.” Gallego, an Iraq War Marine corporal, responded to Hegseth in a post on X.

“I am in communication with a spouse who is forwarding me her husband’s text messages.

Stop lying and fix the problem,” Gallego, 46, wrote.