Clinton's eyebrow-raising socialism take sparks brutal mockery: 'Definition of insanity'

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called the Democratic Party's current "experiment" amid the rise of democratic socialist candidates "healthy," drawing swift conservative backlash from critics who accused her of embracing the party's socialist wing.

"The Democratic Party right now is, I think, going through a kind of experiment, like who can actually respond particularly to young people's very real concerns about where they are at this point in their lives and what kind of future do they have for themselves? I think that is healthy," said Clinton.

Clinton, a matriarch of the Democratic Party, defeated democratic socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders in the 2016 presidential primary. Her remarks come as socialist candidates increasingly challenge establishment-backed Democrats in races across the country.

Clinton spoke Monday in conversation with the Hamptons Institute, weighing in on the Democratic Party's ideological direction as it searches for ways to connect with younger voters while democratic socialist candidates have increasingly notched wins during the primary season.

The moderator asked Clinton where she sees the future of the Democratic Party as it undergoes a "major upheaval between center-left and democratic socialists" during their conversation on diplomacy, national security and global leadership.

Conservative critics seized on Clintons' remarks, accusing her of embracing the Democratic Party's socialist wing and invoking her failed 2016 presidential campaign.

During her remarks, Clinton also turned the socialism charge back on President Donald Trump, accusing his administration of practicing what she called "socialism for the rich."

"I get very amused when I hear Trump and his people talking about socialism and communism. The way he's behaving is socialism for the rich. It is the most ridiculous administration when it comes to doing everything possible to avoid risks and loss for people who are already doing them and to use the power of the government to benefit himself and his cronies and his allies," said Clinton.

"President Trump is creating good-paying jobs, securing trillions of dollars in investments, and positioning our country to dominate the remainder of the 21st century," White House spokesperson Davis Ingle told Fox News Digital.

"Meanwhile, Crooked Hillary Clinton is still whining about her spectacular 2016 election defeat. It's time for Hillary to move on," Ingle added.