The USS Gerald R. Ford, the U.S. Navy’s largest and most advanced aircraft carrier, returned to Naval Station Norfolk on Saturday after a 326-day deployment—the longest for a carrier since the Vietnam War. The deployment included supporting military operations leading to the capture of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in January and participating in the opening phase of the U.S.-led conflict with Iran beginning in February 2026. The ship transited from the Mediterranean to the Caribbean in October before moving through the Suez Canal into the Red Sea by March. During the deployment, a fire in a laundry space injured no one but displaced about 600 sailors and required repairs in Crete. The Ford was accompanied by destroyers, including the USS Bainbridge. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth attended the homecoming, praising the crew. While CTV News and ABC News present a fact-based military narrative, CNN adds context on political objectives under President Trump, technical capabilities, family perspectives, and non-combat system failures.

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