NAACP Demands Action After 265 Days at Sea

"Black Sailors, other Sailors of color, women, and members of historically marginalized communities are among the nearly 5,000 Sailors and Marines serving aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln," the NAACP said.

A sailor aboard the ship told CNN's Pamela Brown: "We've had black mold around the ship for awhile. It's crazy to think that you can be just standing in line waiting for chow or even walking out of the shower and the ceiling drips mold onto your face, shoulders, arms, or head."

Another sailor told CNN the mission kept changing: "At first, when we learned that we would be doing combat operations, it was intended to be a two-week thing. But unfortunately, that became a seven-month thing... They told us it was to help Iranian protesters, then they told us we are out here to denuclearize Iran, now it's to support a blockade. The purpose of even doing this is inconsistent."

TMZ reported that one sailor, asked by his mother how he was doing, answered: "Just get me a gun and a bullet."

Trump said a retired general told him the vessel is "beautifully maintained and beautifully taken care of," and suggested the tour has been "not nearly long enough." He added: "The Lincoln has been out there for a period of time, good period of time. But over the years, we've had them out there much longer."

Fallon, a member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, told Fox Business: "These reports are just that. I haven't heard anything personally from our office, and I trust the Navy to do this as well. So, I don't make much of it, to be honest." He added: "They did an outstanding job and I'm glad they're coming back."

Cao said the deployment was extended because the mission "demanded it," acknowledging that deployments are "hard," that combat operations make them "harder," and that war is "hell."