A U.S. service member's wife had a blunt response on Friday for President Donald Trump after he dismissed reports of poor conditions on the USS Abraham Lincoln, even as families expressed serious concerns about their loved ones.
CNN anchor Jake Tapper spoke with the unnamed woman, who shared that she could not identify herself over concerns for her husband's safety and career. Tapper asked what her reaction was to Trump's remarks after the president said he did not think the deployment was "long enough." Nearly 5,000 sailors and Marines have been deployed on the warship for nine months in the Arabian Sea during the Iran war.
"Oh my God! I don't think theman thinks before he talks," she said. "I was really hoping thatat some point there would be aredemption. Try to redeemyourself at least a little bitwith everything that you do andeverything that you say. Have some empathy.Take some accountability forwhat's going on with yourmilitary, your ships, and yourwar. It'sinfuriating."
She slammed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Trump for their comments dismissing the reports of deteriorating conditions and low morale among the troops.
"What thepresident is saying today, essentially saying thatfamilies are lying and servicemembers are lying, even thoughthe proof is right here on myphone, it is not fabricated," she said. "Nobody is lying."
She criticized the Trump administration for not showing sympathy for service members "that theyclaim to scream and shout thatthey support when it'spolitically sound forthem to use, 'support our troops,support our troops' until ourtroops need support. And nowsuddenly everyone's lying. Andit's a fabrication and it's a misrepresentation."
"I would sobadly love to plaster myface and blow the whistle soloud on social media with myname and be like, 'this is real.We are real people. Those arereal people on that ship. Thisis actually happening.' Butunfortunately, I have to protectmy husband's career."