Hillary Clinton's assessment that many supporters of former President Trump needed to be "deprogrammed" raised eyebrows last week and divided onlookers about the meaning behind her sharp words.

Are partisans today capable of truly having their mind changed? And is suggesting they're mindless robots persuasive?

"Academics have long studied whether political persuasion is possible," Arizona State political scientist Matthew Dempsey told Fox News Digital. "The short answer is that it is very, very difficult to get citizens to have long-term attitude or belief change. And now, in the age of ‘fake news’ and distrusted information sources, it's even more difficult to expose citizens ‘to the facts,’ to have that information be believed, and potentially then be open to opinion change."

Clinton made the remarks in a CNN interview last week, telling anchor Christiane Amanpour, "Sadly, so many of those extremists, those MAGA extremists take their marching orders from Donald Trump, who has no credibility left by any measure. He's only in it for himself. He's now defending himself in civil actions and criminal actions. And when do they break with him?"

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"Because at some point, you know, maybe there needs to be a formal deprogramming of the cult members, but something needs to happen," she added. 

Clinton's words this week were reminiscent of her 2016 Democratic presidential campaign remarks about half of Trump's supporters belonging in a "basket of deplorables."

Dempsey said Clinton may have a point about the level of devotion in some corners to Trump, who enjoys a huge lead in the 2024 Republican primary as he tries to recapture the White House.

"Clinton's language is interesting," he said. "The more appropriate word would have been 'education' rather than 'deprogramming'… Nonetheless, we do see some Trump supporters exhibiting behavior that is out of step with how previous supporters of presidents have behaved; for example, the golden statue of Trump erected at CPAC, Trump himself claiming 'I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody, and I wouldn't lose any voters,' not to mention the events of January 6... So, all of this is to say that we don't typically see the type of devotion to a president that we see with Donald Trump."

Others said Clinton's comments didn't help the country or herself.

"How did calling Trump followers 'deplorable' work out for Ms. Clinton’s presidential candidacy?" communications expert Robbie Vorhaus told Fox News Digital. "Implying that Trump followers need to be 'deprogrammed' is a clickbait ploy, knowing this rhetoric never does any good. Ms. Clinton should consider winning hearts and minds through kindness, diplomacy, and cooperation."

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If Clinton's goal was to arouse conservative anger, she succeeded, as evidenced by the disturbed reactions of many prominent right-leaning figures online.

Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., posted to X, "Hillary Clinton wants Trump supporters to be formally reeducated. Does she know that this is America and not a Communist regime?"

Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., called Clinton's remarks "unhinged behavior." The Federalist Editor-in-Chief Mollie Hemingway warned, "Authoritarianism watch. Former Democrat nominee for President calls for re-education of political opponents."

Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., remarked, "Hillary says the quiet part out loud - and reveals the Left’s true agenda. Use government to crush any opposition. Pure authoritarianism." 

Independent journalist Glenn Greenwald shredded Clinton over the comments, saying, "As she gets increasingly bitter about her 2016 defeat -- even when you think there's no way she can -- Hillary Clinton is more and more the liberal id: she just spews what liberals really think and feel but know not to say. That's where ‘Basket of Deplorables’™ came from."

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Built in two phases in 1848 and 1884 and subsequently dedicated in 1885, the Washington Monument — a marble-faced granite obelisk that honors the first U.S. president, George Washington — opened to the public in Washington, D.C., on this day in history, Oct. 9, 1888.

The Washington Monument is commonly regarded as the most prominent feature of the Washington, D.C., skyline. 

The monument stands 555’ 5 1/8" tall and weighs 81,120 tons, according to several sources.

ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY, OCTOBER 8

The structure is made of white marble blocks that range in thickness from 15’ at the base to 18" at the monument’s top. 

The marble changes color at 150 feet; that marks the spot where construction stopped between 1856 and 1876, according to the Trust for the National Mall. Visitors can climb the 896 steps inside the monument to the observation level. 

There is also an elevator.

The construction honoring President Washington had setbacks. 

ON PRESIDENTS DAY, ADVICE FROM WASHINGTON AND LINCOLN THAT'S STILL RELEVANT TODAY

It took nearly four decades to build the enormous monument in the mid-19th century, during which time it was affected by controversy and stalled by a lack of funds, according to National Geographic. 

The process started in 1833.

That's when John Marshall, James Madison and others created the Washington National Monument Society to honor of the 100th anniversary of George Washington’s birthday, according to The Trust for The National Mall. 

The plans for the structure began in 1835, as The Washington National Monument Society appointed bonded agents to collect funds from the public for construction of a monument to George Washington, according to the National Park Service. 

On Nov. 18, 1845, The Washington National Monument Society selected a design for the monument by Robert Mills — and the design of Mills was formally adopted by the society, the same source said.

ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY, DEC. 6, 1884, WASHINGTON MONUMENT IS COMPLETED 39 YEARS AFTER CONSTRUCTION BEGAN 

The cornerstone was laid July 4, 1848, in a ceremony attended by 20,000 people with much fanfare, as Fox News previously reported. 

President James K. Polk, former first lady Dolley Madison, and future presidents James Buchanan, Andrew Johnson and Abraham Lincoln were among those in attendance, the same article recounted.

Then, on Aug. 2, 1876, Congress appropriated $2 million in federal funds to complete the construction of the Washington Monument, the National Park Service said.

Thomas Lincoln Casey was appointed engineer-in-charge of the monument — and in February 1880, contractors begin installation of the staircase and elevator frames within the monument, the same source chronicled.

Notably, on Dec. 6, 1884, the capstone and aluminum point were set, marking the completion of the construction of the monument, according to several sources. 

After a major restoration project in the 1990s, the Washington Monument reopened in 2001. 

It closed again after an earthquake on Aug 23, 2011, that struck about 85 miles southwest of Washington, D.C., damaging the monument, according to Britannica.com. 

It reopened in May 2014.

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Today, visitors can reserve a place online and ascend to the top of the Washington Monument via an elevator or they can climb the nearly 900 steps. 

There is a small museum at the top as well as panoramic views of our nation’s capital. 

"Plus, you see the monument from all over Washington, peeking around every corner," historian John Steele Gordon, author of "Washington’s Monument and the Fascinating History of the Obelisk," told National Geographic.

"It’s iconic, the ultimate symbol of the capital."

The Washington Monument is surrounded by 50 American flags, one for each state.

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