Trump Prepares To Send Second Carrier Strike Group As Iran Tensions Climb

The Pentagon has directed a second aircraft carrier strike group to prepare for deployment to the Middle East, according to U.S. officials, signaling a significant escalation in military readiness as the Trump administration weighs potential strikes against Iran.

The move would dramatically bolster an already formidable naval presence in the region, The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday. If the order is finalized, the second carrier would join the USS Abraham Lincoln, which arrived in the theater in late January, accompanied by a flotilla of guided-missile destroyers equipped with Tomahawk cruise missiles.

President Trump confirmed Tuesday that he is weighing the deployment to increase leverage as negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs remain stalled. “The order to deploy could be issued in a matter of hours, one of the officials said,” the Journal noted.

While an official order has not yet been issued, officials indicate the USS George H.W. Bush is the primary candidate for the mission. Currently completing training exercises off the coast of Virginia, the USS Bush could have its drills expedited to begin the transit within two weeks. The deployment would mark the first time in nearly a year that two U.S. aircraft carriers have operated simultaneously in the Middle East.

The military maneuvering comes as President Trump met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Wednesday. Following the meeting, Trump emphasized a preference for a diplomatic resolution but maintained a firm stance on military readiness.

“I insisted that negotiations with Iran continue to see whether or not a deal can be consummated,” Trump stated in a social media post. “If it cannot, we will just have to see what the outcome will be.”

The potential addition of the USS George H.W. Bush strike group adds to a formidable array of U.S. assets already in place to establish air and sea superiority: The USS Abraham Lincoln and its strike group, supported by Littoral Combat Ships patrolling the Persian Gulf; Stealth F-35A Lightning II jets, F-15E Strike Eagles, and EA-18G Growler electronic warfare aircraft stationed at bases in Jordan, Qatar, and the UAE; and additional THAAD and Patriot missile batteries deployed to shield regional allies and U.S. bases from potential retaliation.

Pentagon officials characterize the current posture as deterrence through readiness. However, following a series of previous strikes in 2025, President Trump has reportedly requested decisive military options should ongoing talks in Oman fail to produce a breakthrough.

The Navy and White House have declined to comment on specific ship movements, citing operational security.