Donald Trump's cabinet complained about "free-loading" Europe in a secret group chat, it has emerged. The comments on messaging app Signal were accidentally shared with the Atlantic’s editor in chief Jeffrey Goldberg.

Members of the US President's top team discussed sensitive plans to bomb Yemen earlier this month. They reportedly included Vice-President JD Vance, US defence secretary Pete Hegseth and national security advisor Mike Waltz.

Mr Vance said the administration was making a “mistake” by taking military action.

He wrote: “I just hate bailing Europe out again."

Mr Hegseth replied: “VP: I fully share your loathing of European free-loading. It’s PATHETIC. But Mike is correct, we are the only ones on the planet (on our side of the ledger) who can do this. Nobody else even close.”

The airstrikes on March 15 were aimed at preventing attacks by the Houthi rebel group on commercial ships heading through the Red Sea to and from the Suez Canal.

Members of the group reacted to the strikes with American flag emojis and by congratulating each other.

The US government confirmed that the group chat was genuine but said it was a “demonstration of the deep and thoughtful policy coordination between senior officials”.

Mr Trump said he did not “know anything about it”, adding: “I’m not a big fan of The Atlantic. To me, it’s a magazine that’s going out of business... but I know nothing about it.”

Democrats have demanded hearings into the leaked messages.

It comes as Mr Trump has repeatedly attacked Europe for not spending enough on defence.