The private messaging group included the US defence secretary's wife, brother and personal lawyer, sources tell US media.

“Pete’s doing a great job,” Trump told reporters on Monday. “Everybody’s happy with him.”

Trump told reporters he has “great confidence” in his defence secretary.

“Are you bringing up Signal again? I thought they gave that up two weeks ago. It’s the same old stuff from the media,” he said. “Try finding something new,” he said.

edit: added archive https://archive.ph/KkO0s