“Thanks to the victory over Venezuela and Iran.” Trump’s first comment on the failure of efforts to remove his Defense Minister

On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump celebrated the House of Representatives' rejection of Republican Representative Thomas Massie's efforts to remove Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and attacked the representative just minutes after those efforts failed in the House chamber.

Trump wrote on his platform, "Truth Social": "The Democrats' attempt to remove Secretary of War Pete Hegseth failed miserably. All Republicans - except Thomas Massie, a big loser - voted for Pete."

Trump added: "Once again, victories in Venezuela and Iran, achieving the best numbers in the history of military recruitment, long waiting lists to join, and morale never seen before have vindicated a great American patriot. Democrats continue to use state institutions as a weapon and abuse the United States of America. They must be stopped. Make America great again."

Sources told CNN that Republican Party leaders, along with White House officials, worked intensely behind the scenes to prevent a vote that might embarrass Trump.

Trump expressed his strong support for Hegseth before the vote, writing on Monday: “Defeated Republican Rep. Thomas Massie - a loser by all accounts - is trying to remove Pete Hegseth, the Secretary of War who is perhaps the most popular and successful military official in the country.”

Trump also told CNN anchor Caitlan Collins that he "will stand by Hegseth if he is subjected to impeachment proceedings."