John Boehner, who led House Republicans until retiring last year, said he would never support Ted Cruz for president because the Texas senator is "Lucifer in the flesh."

Boehner made the hard comments about Cruz during a talk at Stanford University Wednesday night, according to the Stanford Daily newspaper.

"I have Democrat friends and Republican friends," Boehner said. "I get along with almost everyone, but I have never worked with a more miserable son of a bitch in my life."

He had kinder words for Republican frontrunner Donald Trump and Ohio Gov. John Kasich, both of whom he said he would vote for of nominated. He enjoys playing golf with Trump and said they were "texting buddies."

As for likely Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, he called her "very accomplished and smart."

Cruz, a first term senator, hijacked a sizable number of House Republicans to follow him in a revolt against Speaker Boehner.

Cruz quickly embraced the attack, retweeting supporters who called it the "best endorsement" he could ever get to be slammed by the former leader of the GOP establishment in Washington.

Tell me again who will stand up to Washington? Trump, who's Boehner's "texting and golfing buddy," or Carly & me? https://t.co/qvYPSaTEV7

-- Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) April 28, 2016