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A White House press briefing has been cut short after a barrage of questions about Donald Trump's ban on transgender military personnel.

The US President left human rights groups outraged and prompted a backlash from a UK military chief after making the shock announcement on Twitter today.

President Trump said he took the decision - while Defense Secretary General Mattis is on vacation - due to 'medical costs and disruption'.

But quizzed by journalists, White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders could not say what exactly that disruption was.

She also could not immediately clarify if the thousands of transgender soldiers already serving will be sacked.

And she was unable to say when this limbo for service personnel will end, saying only: "We’ll let you know when we have an announcement."

Instead she repeated the same line: "The President's expressed concern since this Obama policy came into effect... that this is a very expensive and disruptive policy.

"And based on consultation he's had with his national security regime, came to the conclusion that it erodes military readiness and unit cohesion."

(Image: EPA)

She added: "Implementation of the policy is going to be something that the White House and the Department of Defense have to work together to lawfully determine."

President Trump was accused of betrayal after he promised the LGBT community "I will fight for you while Hillary [Clinton] brings in more people that will threaten your freedoms and beliefs."

Yet Ms Sanders claimed the decision was a "military decision" and "it’s not meant to be any more than that", adding: "The President has a lot of support for all Americans and certainly wants to protect all Americans at all times."

(Image: EPA)

Despite finding time in her briefing to read a fawning letter from a nine-year-old who told the President "You seem really nice, can we be friends?", Ms Sanders later tried to bring proceedings to an end.

"Guys, I really don’t have anything else to add on that topic," she said after being quizzed about the military ban again. "If those are the only questions we have, call it a day."

A few minutes later, she said: "Guys, I hate to cut it short. The President's got an event."

Public figures from Katy Perry to a Commander in the British Navy have spoken out in favour of transgender personnel since Trump's tweet.

(Image: REUTERS)

The President wrote: "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."

A study last year found there were between 1,300 and 6,600 transgender service members in a US military of more than a million.

Yet the same study found just a fraction would seek transition treatment and just 29 to 129 could have their service "disrupted". It also found the costs were "relatively low" at $2.4m to $8.4m.

Star Trek actor George Takei, a longtime advocate for LGBTQ equality, said: "History shall record that you are not only the stupidest, most incompetent president ever, but also the cruelest and pettiest. "

Pop star Katy Perry wrote: "ALL those who defend our right to live freely should be able to serve freely! There are THOUSANDS currently serving!"

Alex Burton, Commander of the UK Maritime Forces, wrote: "As a Royal Navy LGBT champion and senior warfighter I am so glad we are not going this way."