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The first transgender officer to serve openly in the UK Armed forces has blasted Donald Trump.

Caroline Paige said valuable recruits would be lost after the US President declared transgender people are not welcome to serve in any capacity in the US military.

The announcement was met with widespread confusion and condemnation, with critics branding it "cruel", "petty" and an attack on servicemen and women who risk their lives to protect the United States.

Caroline was involved in a heated debate on Good Morning Britain with Jessie Jane Duff, who served in the US Marines for 20 years and backs Trump's decision.

(Image: ITV) (Image: ITV)

Caroline, who served in Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan, said it was "very disappointing" to hear the news, having worked with Obama's government to allow trans people to serve openly.

She made the decision to tell her superiors about her transition back in 1999 despite the risks she believed it could entail to her career.

Caroline said: "I can say that no transgender person wants to be in the army if they’re not fit to do the job.

"If they can’t do the job they won’t be in the job. They’ll be the same standard as anyone else.

"The cost is £30,000 per individual. If you chuck them out you lose the value of training them and irreplaceable value of experience."

(Image: REUTERS)

Announcing his decision on Twitter, President Trump said: "After consultation with my Generals and military experts, please be advised that the United States Government will not accept or allow Transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the U.S. Military.

"Our military must be focused on decisive and overwhelming victory and cannot be burdened with the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail. Thank you"

He was supported by Jessie Jane Duff, who argued that "the military is not a social services agency".

(Image: ITV)

Speaking about Caroline, she said: "I'm not going to diminish her service but she has not served in the United States military.

"You can’t compare the mission of the United States military to the missions of other countries."

Caroline, a flight navigator, argued that she had worked very closely with the American armed forces and flew on same missions.

But Jessie replied "you're not a pilot" before she said: "That's a big difference to what I do on the ground."

She said: "President Trump made this based on the support of many people on active duty and veterans. Anyone coming on active duty that needs, surgery, hormones, insulin, cannot join our military. What we focus on is the medical costs associated with that."

(Image: ITV)

Viewers took to Twitter to praise Caroline and blast Jessie for their views.

One viewer said: "Where do they get these USA guests? Caroline is giving clear concise arguments, Jesse is awful and just yelling over people! #GMB"

Another added: "Caroline thank you for serving for so long for our army! this jess woman needs to do one. Chatting absolute rubbish! #gmb @GMB"

A third said: "Jessie Jane Dunn your views are ridiculous and very insulting #gmb @gmb #transgendermilitary"