President Donald Trump has reportedly wished former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney luck in his future endeavors, amid mounting speculation that the 2012 Republican presidential nominee will seek a 2018 U.S. Senate bid in Utah.

The president, who has enjoyed a rather rocky and combative relationship with Romney, spoke with the former governor in a brief phone call Thursday, those familiar with the conversations told Politico.

The Republicans reportedly discussed U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, who recently announced he would retire from Congress.

Romney, who has long been rumored to be considering a Senate run pending Hatch's retirement, thanked the senator for his service in Congress and changed his Twitter location from Massachusetts to Holladay, Utah, following news of his departure, according to reports.

The move came just months after he reportedly began meeting with local Republican power brokers, contacting major donors and campaigning for local candidates -- things seen as steps toward a potential 2018 Senate run.

Trump, in turn, pressured Hatch to seek re-election -- including flying with him to Salt Lake City in December -- to essentially block the former governor from attempting to join the Senate, according to reports.

The president told reporters in early December that he was urging the 83-year-old Hatch to seek an eighth six-year term in next year's congressional midterm elections.

Trump aides attributed the president's efforts to his bond with Hatch, but those close to Romney argued that the president's primary motivation was to keep the former governor, whom he publicly sparred with throughout the 2016 campaign, from entering the Senate, Politico reported.

Although Romney and Trump appeared to make peace after the 2016 election -- with the then-president-elect even reportedly considering appointing the former governor his secretary of state -- Romney has criticized the president's "America First" approach to foreign policy and response to violence in Charlottesville, Virginia.