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The Senate advanced the nomination of Pete Hegseth as President Donald Trump's defense secretary Thursday on a largely party-line vote, despite objections from Democrats and stirring unease among Republicans over his behavior and qualifications to lead the U.

Senators voted 51-49 to advance Hegseth's defense secretary bid, which has been mired in several controversies. Two Republicans oppose him.

WASHINGTON — Senators jockeyed to magnify contrasting aspects of Pete Hegseth’s life at his confirmation hearing Tuesday on whether the veteran, Fox News personality and accused perpetrator of sexual misconduct is qualified to lead the nation’s military and its nearly $900 billion budget.

A Princeton and Harvard-educated former combat veteran, Hegseth went on to make a career at Fox News, where he hosted a weekend show. Trump tapped him as the defense secretary to lead an organization with nearly 2.1 million service members, about 780,000 civilians and a budget of $850 billion.

Pete Hegseth’s qualifications to serve as the next secretary of defense are so scant that when Democratic senators called them into question during his confirmation hearing last week, a Republican senator rose to Hegseth’s defense by pointing out that the only real qualification is that the secretary be a civilian.

Trump's administration has cleared the way for arrests in schools of people suspected of being without legal status. And, Pete Hegseth battles new allegations before receiving Senate confirmation.

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The Senate is muscling Pete Hegseth’s nomination as defense secretary toward confirmation. The Republican senators are prioritizing the former Fox News host and combat veteran’s vow to create a “warrior culture” at the Pentagon over allegations of heavy drinking and aggressive behavior toward women.

The vote comes after the Senate narrowly advanced Hegseth's nomination to lead the Pentagon on Thursday, with two Republicans opposed to him.

Pete Hegseth, dogged by allegations of sexual misconduct and alcohol abuse, is increasingly expected to be confirmed by the Senate on Friday night.