Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has sparked controversy once again with her recent comments suggesting that supporters of former President Donald Trump need to be "formally deprogrammed". During an interview with CNN anchor Christiane Amanpour, Clinton expressed concern about the level of devotion some Trump supporters have for the former president, referring to them as a “cult”. She argued that measures may need to be taken to break this devotion and bring them back to a more reasonable mindset.

Clinton's remarks drew immediate criticism from conservatives, who accused her of authoritarianism and a lack of respect for ordinary people. The comments also brought back memories of Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign, where she famously referred to half of Trump's supporters as belonging in a "basket of deplorables". Republicans wasted no time in denouncing Clinton's comments, with Tennessee GOP Sen. Marsha Blackburn tweeting, "Hillary Clinton wants Trump supporters to be formally reeducated. Does she know that this is America and not a Communist regime?"

While some conservatives were quick to dismiss Clinton's comments as clickbait and rhetoric that does more harm than good, others acknowledged that there is a level of devotion among some Trump supporters that is unusual. Arizona State political scientist Matthew Dempsey noted that political persuasion is difficult, especially in today's age of "fake news" and distrusted information sources. He also pointed out examples of behavior exhibited by some Trump supporters, such as the golden statue of Trump erected at CPAC and Trump's own claim that he could shoot someone and not lose any voters.

On the other hand, critics argued that Clinton's comments did not help the country or herself. Communications expert Robbie Vorhaus suggested that Clinton should focus on winning hearts and minds through kindness, diplomacy, and cooperation instead of using divisive language. Some prominent right-leaning figures also expressed their dismay over Clinton's remarks, with Rep. Byron Donalds calling them "unhinged behavior" and Mollie Hemingway, the Editor-in-Chief of The Federalist, warning of authoritarianism.

Overall, Clinton's comments have reignited the divide between supporters and critics of former President Trump. While some argue that there is a need to address the level of devotion among some Trump supporters, others believe that Clinton's language is divisive and counterproductive. As the political landscape continues to be polarized, the question of whether true persuasion is possible remains unanswered.