Former House speaker John Boehner said Thursday that Republicans won't deliver on a years-long promise to repeal the Affordable Care Act, telling an audience at a health care conference that "repeal-and-replace" is "not going to happen," and that the GOP will instead fix the ACA's current framework.

"I shouldn't call it repeal-and-replace, because it's not going to happen," Boehner told Politico.

"Most of the framework of the Affordable Care Act ... that's going to be there," he added in the Politico interview.

John Boehner: GOP won't repeal and replace Obamacare — it's just "happy talk." https://t.co/C7F7Xi4avN by @dariustahir — Dan Diamond (@ddiamond) February 23, 2017

Boehner, who resigned from Congress in 2015, is no longer shackled by the constraints of leading House Republicans. That means he's free to admit his party won't be able to completely repeal the ACA.

Boehner's comments run counter to promises from President Donald Trump and current Congressional Republicans.

Trump has promised that a full repeal and replacement will happen, and added that a replacement framework is coming in March. So far, there are few details of what that replacement will entail, despite the fact that Republicans have vowed to replace the law since it was passed.

13 PHOTOS Protests for and against Obamacare See Gallery Protests for and against Obamacare Tea Party Patriots supporters hold signs protesting the Affordable Care Act in front of the Supreme Court as the court hears arguments on the health care reform bill on Tuesday, March 27, 2012. (Photo By Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call) Affordable Care Act supporters wave signs outside the Supreme Court after the court upheld court's Obamacare on Thursday, June 25, 2015. (Photo By Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call) A man holds signs during a protest on the second day of oral arguments for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in front of the U.S. Supreme Court building on March 27, 2012 in Washington, DC. Today is the second of three days the high court has set aside to hear six hours of arguments over the constitutionality President Barack Obama's Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) Sister Caroline attends a rally with other supporters of religious freedom to praise the Supreme Court's decision in the Hobby Lobby, contraception coverage requirement case on June 30, 2014 in Chicago, Illinois. Oklahoma-based Hobby Lobby, which operates a chain of arts-and-craft stores, challenged the provision and the high court ruled 5-4 that requiring family-owned corporations to pay for insurance coverage for contraception under the Affordable Care Act violated a federal law protecting religious freedom. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) An Obamacare supporter counter protests a Tea Party rally in front of the U.S. Supreme Court in the morning hours of March 27, 2012 in Washington, DC. The Supreme Court continued to hear oral arguments on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) Affordable Care Act supporters hold up signs outside the Supreme Court as they wait for the court's decision on Obamacare on Thursday, June 25, 2015. (Photo By Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call) Ron Kirby holds a sign while marching in protest of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in front of the U.S. Supreme Court on March 26, 2012 in Washington, DC. Today the high court, which has set aside six hours over three days, will hear arguments over the constitutionality President Barack Obama's Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) A protester waves his bible in the air as he overpowered by cheers from supporters of the Affordable Care Act as they celebrate the opinion for health care outside of the Supreme Court in Washington,Thursday June 25, 2015. The Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the nationwide tax subsidies under President Barack Obama's health care overhaul, in a ruling that preserves health insurance for millions of Americans. (Photo By Al Drago/CQ Roll Call) Nuns, who are opposed to the Affordable Care Act's contraception mandate, and other supporters rally outside of the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Wednesday, March 23, 2016. On Wednesday morning, the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments in Zubik v. Burwell, a consolidated case brought by religious groups challenging a process for opting out of the Affordable Care Act's contraception mandate. (Drew Angerer/Bloomberg via Getty Images) Supporters of contraception rally before Zubik v. Burwell, an appeal brought by Christian groups demanding full exemption from the requirement to provide insurance covering contraception under the Affordable Care Act, is heard by the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington March 23, 2016. (REUTERS/Joshua Roberts) Protestors hold placards challenging 'Obamacare' outside of the US Supreme Court on March 4, 2015 in Washington, DC. The US Supreme Court heard a second challenge to US President Barack Obama's Affordable Care Act. The US Supreme Court faces a momentous case Wednesday on the sweeping health insurance reform law that President Barack Obama wants to leave as part of his legacy. The question before the court is whether the seven million people or more who subscribed via the government's website can obtain tax subsidies that make the coverage affordable. A ruling is expected in June. (MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images) Linda Door (L) protests against President Obama's health care plan in front of the U.S. Supreme Court Building on March 26, 2012 in Washington, DC. Today the high court, which has set aside six hours over three days, will hear arguments over the constitutionality President Barack Obama's Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) Supporters of the Affordable Care Act celebrate after the Supreme Court up held the law in the 6-3 vote at the Supreme Court in Washington June 25, 2015. The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the nationwide availability of tax subsidies that are crucial to the implementation of President Barack Obama's signature healthcare law, handing a major victory to the president. (REUTERS/Joshua Roberts) Up Next See Gallery Discover More Like This HIDE CAPTION SHOW CAPTION of SEE ALL BACK TO SLIDE

Boehner himself also promised a full repeal and replacement on numerous occasions during his tenure as speaker, as well as oversaw more than 50 repeal votes.

In May 2012, Boehner said, "Anything short of [a repeal] is unacceptable."

Later that year, after President Barack Obama won re-election, Boehner admitted that Obamacare was the "law of the land" — but still promised a full repeal and replacement after coming under pressure from his party for his comment.

"Our goal has been, and will remain, #fullrepeal," Boehner tweeted.

ObamaCare is law of the land, but it is raising costs & threatening jobs. Our goal has been, and will remain, #fullrepeal. — John Boehner (@SpeakerBoehner) November 8, 2012

Now, however, Boehner is saying a speedy repeal and replacement of Obamacare — which Trump has promised — is never going to happen.

"I started laughing," he said of the talk of the quick repeal and replacement, Politicoreported.

"Republicans never ever agree on health care," he added.

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