As America’s enemies, both foreign and domestic, seek to disparage the US military’s mission and leadership in the Middle East, one branch of the service is pushing back against what it says is fake news about conditions among its ranks.
In a social media post on Saturday, the US Navy posted images of healthy meals being served to enlisted men and women, contradicting some recent claims that they weren’t being fed enough.
Fox News provided some context the the story:
Images have emerged purportedly showing meager meals being served to sailors during Operation Epic Fury against Iran, but the claims are being rejected at highest levels of the Pentagon, with Secretary of War Pete Hegseth blasting them as “fake news.”
ADVERTISEMENT“Fresh meals. Full service. Mission ready. Sailors aboard USS Abraham Lincoln and USS Tripoli continue to receive regularly prepared meals at sea — no interruptions, no shortages,” the Navy wrote on X on Saturday morning.
It shared photos showing full plates of food being served to sailors. One image showed boxes of food supplies stacked to the ceiling onboard one of the ships.
“Recent reports alleging food shortages and poor quality aboard our deployed ships are false,” Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Daryl Caudle said Friday.
“Both USS Abraham Lincoln and USS Tripoli have sufficient food onboard to serve their crews with healthy options. The health and wellbeing of our Sailors and Marines are my top priority, and every crew member continues to receive fully portioned, nutritionally balanced meals,” he added.
The rumors, as well as the Pentagon’s reaction to them, have become fodder for social media discussion in recent days:
🇺🇸 War Secretary Hegseth is calling out reporters for pushing food shortage stories about the USS Abraham Lincoln and USS Tripoli.
Navy Central Command says both carriers have more than 30 days of food supplies on board and that logistics are monitored daily across every ship.… https://t.co/SG0qBAwmUz pic.twitter.com/DBmzwZ0owU
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) April 18, 2026
No shit.
If you fell for that staged tray pic,
you’re just dumb as fck.— Willy Cuz (@WillyCuz) April 18, 2026
US Navy has the best chow.
— NotUrs (@TakingBack2024) April 18, 2026
Here’s what the New York Post had to add to the story:
Caudle’s statement did not directly address the images in the USA Today story.
ADVERTISEMENT“The [Navy] is correct. More FAKE NEWS from the Pharisee Press,” War Secretary Pete Hegseth wrote on X.
“My team confirmed the logistics stats for the Lincoln & Tripoli. Both have 30+ days of Class I supplies (food) on board. NavCent monitors this everyday, for every ship,” Hegseth continued. “Our sailors deserve — and receive — the best.”
USA Today also reported that care packages weren’t getting to troops in the Middle East due to an indefinite suspension on mail deliveries to military ZIP codes in the region.
The Office of the Chief of Naval Operations indicated that suspension has now been lifted.
Here’s a deeper look at what it takes to keep sailors fed during deployments:
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