Government ministers have leapt to the defence of an Australian reporter berated by Donald Trump for asking questions about the US president's personal business dealings.

In criticising the journalist, Donald Trump also confirmed he would soon meet face-to-face with Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese.

"In my opinion you are hurting Australia very much right now," Mr Trump told the ABC's John Lyons while speaking to journalists at the White House.

"Your leader is coming over to see me very soon.

"I'm going to tell him about you. You set a very bad tone."

Mr Lyons, the national broadcaster's Americas editor, had asked the president about whether it was appropriate for a US leader to be "engaged in so much business activity" while in office.

Mr Trump said his children were running

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