LIVE UPDATES: Trump arrives in NC, says ‘FEMA has really let us down’; Hegseth moves on to a final Senate vote

The Senate is scheduled to take a final confirmation vote on Pete Hegseth’s nomination for defense secretary on Friday, a day after his nomination advanced by a slim margin with two Republicans opposing him.

Hegseth is expected to be confirmed. GOP Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) and Susan Collins (Maine) were the only Republicans to vote against it in Thursday’s procedural vote. Hegseth can afford three GOP defections if all Democrats vote no.

Murkowski cited “significant concerns” about the offer, and Collins said his background and lack of management experience prompted her vote.

The final vote will be Friday evening unless senators reach a deal to curtail debate, which could be difficult, given Democratic opposition to Hegseth.

As the Senate debates, President Trump left the White House for his first trip since I returned to the right, visiting disaster zones in North Carolina and California.

The president surveyed damage from Tropical Storm Helen in Asheville, N.C., while on the campaign trail in October, and will return there for an update. He will then head to Los Angeles to view the devastation from the wildfires that started earlier this month, leaving 28 people dead and destroying thousands of structures.

California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom said he will salute his political rival when he departs from the Air Force.

The trip falls into a whirlwind week for Trump, who has already taken impactful steps to reshape the government, including ending diversity programs, mobilizing the military to tackle illegal immigration and announcing that the United States will leave international alliances.

Follow with updates here throughout the day.