Fact Check: Did Trump order USS Abraham Lincoln sailors to sign NDA before leaving the ship?
WASHINGTON, DC: Amid concerns over conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, a rumor began circulating on social media platforms claiming that President Donald Trump had ordered sailors aboard the ship to sign an NDA promising not to say anything negative about their deployment.
The claim sparked criticism and concerns, prompting a verification of the rumor.
Claim: Trump ordered USS Abraham Lincoln crew to sign an NDA
A viral social media post stated that “Donald Trump announced today that sailors aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln will not be permitted to leave the ship until they sign legally binding nondisclosure agreements promising never to say anything 'negative, nasty or insufficiently beautiful' about their deployment.”
The claim has spread on Facebook, X, and Bluesky, garnering hundreds of thousands of views as of this writing. It drew mixed reactions from online users, with some condemning the president while others questioned the claim’s authenticity, prompting a fact-check.
Fact Check: Trump made no such announcements
However, there is no evidence that the president gave such an order to sailors aboard the ship; hence, the claim is rated as false.
There are no official remarks, press releases, statements, or announcements from the president, the White House, CENTCOM, or the Pentagon ordering sailors to sign a nondisclosure agreement prohibiting them from saying anything negative about their deployment.
A search on Google for the claim yielded no credible reports by prominent news media outlets, which, if true, would have been widely covered, sparking widespread outrage and debates.
Additionally, the claim was posted by an account that describes itself in the bio as a ‘parody.’
Trump dismissed concerns over USS Abraham Lincoln's long deployment
The claim surfaced after Trump dismissed concerns raised by the families of sailors aboard the aircraft carrier, saying that its lengthy deployment was “not nearly long enough.”
While speaking with reporters at Joint Base Andrews, when asked about the conditions on the carrier or the mental health of its crew, Trump rejected the concerns, saying, “No, they’re not,” and confirmed that the carrier is set to leave the region and be replaced by another carrier.
“It’s moving out. Another, very similar, ship,” Trump said.
When asked about its unusually long eight-and-a-half-month deployment at sea, Trump pushed back again, saying, “No, no, no. Not nearly long enough.”
The president’s remarks came as the Lincoln’s prolonged deployment has drawn increasing attention to the demands placed on its crew and concerns voiced by their families.
