Donald Trump says he will not allow transgender individuals to serve in the US military "in any capacity".

The US President revealed the decision after a "consultation" with armed forces chiefs.

Campaigners said it was a "shocking and ignorant attack" on transgender troops.

The leader's controversial move reverses plans put in place by Barack Obama's administration to begin accepting transgender recruits, with transgender people expected to start enlisting this year.

Mr Obama's defence secretary Ash Carter ended a ban on transgender people being able to serve openly in the military in June 2016.

An estimated 2,500 to 7,000 transgender people are already on active duty, with another 1,500 to 4,000 in America's military reserves.

Since October, transgender troops have been able to receive medical care and begin formally changing their gender.

Up to 250 service members are believed to be in the process of transitioning to their preferred genders or been approved to formally change gender.

Mr Trump did not explain what would happen to those existing transgender people in the military, with those affected urged to contact lawyers by LGBT rights groups.

The Pentagon referred all questions about the President's announcement to the White House and said it would provide revised guidance to the US military "in the near future".

"We will continue to work closely with the White House to address the new guidance provided by the Commander-in-Chief on transgender individuals serving the military," Pentagon spokesman Navy Captain Jeff Davis said.

Revealing the move on Twitter, Mr Trump posted: "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."

Last month, Mr Trump's defence secretary James Mattis put a six-month delay on the acceptance of transgender recruits into the military.

Under Mr Obama's plan, transgender recruits would have to have been "stable" in their preferred gender for 18 months.
UK armed forces allow transgender people to apply and serve openly.
Source. http://news.sky.com/story/donald-trump-wont-allow-transgender-soldiers-10962709