Overview
- The USS Gerald R. Ford strike group has been ordered to leave the Caribbean for the Middle East to join the USS Abraham Lincoln, according to President Trump and U.S. officials.
- Trump said the carrier will depart “very shortly” and warned that if no deal is reached with Tehran the consequences would be “very traumatic.”
- The New York Times first reported the orders, which multiple outlets corroborated; the White House and Pentagon initially offered no immediate public comment.
- Officials and analysts say adding the Ford will significantly expand U.S. air and naval capability, enabling more sustained operations and bolstering deterrence.
- Arrival is expected in weeks, likely extending the Ford’s deployment into late April or early May, as indirect U.S.–Iran talks continue and regional partners caution about escalation risks.