Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, said Thursday he had a "great conversation" with former President Donald Trump about Jordan's bid to become the next House speaker, but wouldn't say if he has Trump's support.
Jordan also told NBC News that he would not support the expulsion of Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., who spearheaded the ouster of Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., as speaker this week.
"I talked to the president about this and all kinds of issues," said Jordan, a staunch Trump ally, adding that when it comes to whether or not Trump is backing him, "I don't want to say anything, but I had a great conversation with the president."
Trump, in a Truth Social post Thursday, offered his "short-term" help to "do whatever is necessary to help with the Speaker of the House selection process."
The post came one day after Trump declined to rule himself out to fill in as House speaker.
Jordan said he disagrees with Gaetz's actions against McCarthy, but he doesn't think removing Gaetz from the Republican caucus, as some lawmakers are demanding, is appropriate.
"I don't think that's warranted," Jordan said. "We've got a four-seat majority. Matt's a talented member of Congress. I disagree with what he did … but he's a great member of our committee … I think we've got to come together."
Jordan also wouldn't answer directly about whether one member should be able to make a motion to remove a House speaker after Gaetz used the House rule to lead to the vote against McCarthy this week.
"That's a conference decision," Jordan said. "But if that's what the conference wants to do, then I would support it."
Changing the House rule, he added, would require a vote from the chamber's majority, and to get that, all Republicans would have to be on board.
"I wouldn't go to Democrats and get votes because they're going to want something," said Jordan, adding that even though a future speaker could also face McCarthy's fate, he would be "fine with that, if that's where the conference is."
Jordan, a McCarthy ally, is also a leading GOP lawmaker in President Joe Biden's impeachment inquiry and the investigations into the president's administration and family.
However, Jordan told NBC News that he and Biden can still have a working relationship, commenting that as speaker, "we'll deal with them, they'll deal with us. That's how it works."
Jordan also said he and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who would be his counterpart in the Senate, have a "fine" and "good" relationship.
But when asked about funding for the war, which Jordan opposes but McConnell favors, Jordan said his position is "the position where the American people are."