In a brief exchange ​with reporters before flying to New York, Trump rejected ⁠suggestions that the deployment had gone on too long.

“No, ​no, no. Not nearly long enough,” Trump said when asked ​whether the carrier’s eight-and-a-half months at sea was excessive.

“That ship is moving right now, or very shortly, and it’s being replaced with another ​very similar ship,” Trump said.

The Lincoln left its home port ​of San Diego last November and was later redirected to the Middle ‌East ⁠to support US military operations in the war with Iran.

The carrier has roughly 5,000 sailors and Marines aboard.

The ship has not made a port call in more than ​200 days, setting ​a modern-day ⁠record for consecutive days at sea, according to US Senator Richard Blumenthal, a Democratic member ​of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Several Democratic lawmakers ​have ⁠called for answers after families of sailors raised concerns about worsening mental health, living conditions and supply issues aboard the carrier.

Defence ⁠Secretary ​Pete Hegseth on Thursday pushed back against ​reports of deteriorating conditions aboard the Lincoln, calling them “completely misrepresented.”