Donald Trump's White House staff 'communicate through app which automatically deletes messages'

Government insiders have been leaking information to media outlets throughout Trump's time in office

President Donald Trump speaks on the phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Oval Office of the White House (Getty)

Donald Trump’s White House staff are using a secret communications app which erases messages as soon as they are read, it has been reported.

The alleged practice is thought to be due to concern over continuing leaks from staff to the media, which has been a source of growing frustration and often embarrassment for the Trump administration.

The app 'Confide', deletes messages once they have been opened on a device, meaning that there is no record of them or their content thereafter.

The app's website explains: "Communicate digitally with the same level of privacy and security as the spoken word. With encrypted messages that self-destruct, Confide gives you the comfort of knowing that your private messages will now truly stay that way."

Several staffers for President Trump are now communicating though it, Washington Post reports.

During his month-long Presidency so far, Mr Trump’s administration has seen a number of leaks including speculation about executive orders, as well as negative and often highly critical briefings to journalists. They have often been quoted in media outlets as unnamed and anonymous government insiders.

The flurry of unapproved briefings has resulted in growing criticism that the administration is chaotic and unprofessional.

On Monday, it was revealed that President Trump has ordered an internal investigation to ascertain who has been leaking stories to the media.

Following numerous leaks about the resignation of disgraced former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, President Trump took to social media to vent his frustration.

He wrote on Twitter: “The real story here is why are there so many illegal leaks coming out of Washington? Will these leaks be happening as I deal with North Korea etc?”