Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani is joining President Donald Trump's personal legal team to help with Special Counsel Bob Mueller's probe into potential Russian meddling in the 2016 election, The Washington Post reported on Thursday.

News that the two had been discussing a role was first reported by The Daily Beast earlier in the day.

Though talks had been ongoing, a formal announcement was delayed by a slew of foreign policy matters that took over much of the president's time and agenda. A source familiar with the arrangement said that Trump had been preoccupied by North Korea and Syria, which limited his availability to speak with potential new members of his legal team.

Giuliani told the Post that he was joining the team "because I hope we can negotiate an end to this for the good of the country and because I have high regard for the president and for Bob Mueller."