US President Donald Trump called Australian PM Scott Morrison and asked for his help with an investigation into the origins of the Mueller inquiry, Australian officials have confirmed.

Mr Trump asked Mr Morrison to help find evidence to discredit the inquiry, US and Australian media reported.

Australia confirmed the call had taken place and that the PM agreed to help.

The revelation comes as Mr Trump faces impeachment proceedings at home over a call with another foreign leader.

The president is accused of pressuring the leader of Ukraine to investigate domestic political rival Joe Biden, in a phone call which was exposed by a whistleblower last week.

The call spurred Democrats to launch impeachment proceedings, and on Monday the president’s lawyer Rudy Giuliani was served with a subpoena.

Meanwhile, the Washington Post has reported that US Attorney-General William Barr held private meetings with Italian and British intelligence officials to ask for assistance in the investigation of the Mueller inquiry.

A source told the paper Mr Barr visited Italy last week, and not for the first time.

Why is Australia move controversial?

The transcript of the call between Mr Morrison and Mr Trump was restricted within the White House to a small number of the president’s aides, reports said – contrary to normal protocol. Read more

Read also: Russia says Trump can’t release phone calls without Kremlin permission

US President Donald Trump called Australian PM Scott Morrison and asked for his help with an investigation into the origins of the Mueller inquiry, Australian officials have confirmed.

US President Donald Trump called Australian PM Scott Morrison and asked for his help with an investigation into the origins of the Mueller inquiry, Australian officials have confirmed.

US President Donald Trump called Australian PM Scott Morrison and asked for his help with an investigation into the origins of the Mueller inquiry, Australian officials have confirmed.