GOP Senator Steve Daines Cites Dinner with VP Vance as Iran War Oversight, Drawing Sharp Criticism
Key Takeaways
- •Senator Steve Daines claimed that attending a dinner at Vice President JD Vance's residence fulfilled his congressional oversight responsibilities regarding the Iran war, prompting pushback from journalists and commentators.
- •Following a dinner hosted by Vance on June 24 and a separate Situation Room briefing, Senator Bill Cassidy reversed his position on a war powers resolution he had previously supported.
- •The Senate passed a war powers resolution 50-48 on June 23, with Daines voting against it and reaffirming his stance that the measure is unconstitutional.
- •Democrats have forced approximately 10 war powers votes in the Senate since the Iran conflict began with U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on February 28, with most Republicans voting to block these measures.
- •The War Powers Resolution of 1973 requires presidential notification within 48 hours of military action and limits deployments to 60 days without congressional approval, though every president since its passage has disputed its constitutionality.
Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) drew widespread criticism on Thursday after he cited a dinner at Vice President JD Vance's residence as evidence that he was fulfilling his congressional oversight responsibilities regarding the Iran war.
During an appearance on Fox Business, host Stuart Varney pressed Daines on whether the Senate should assert greater control over the ongoing conflict.
"I was at Vice President Vance's residence recently having dinner, talking about Iran, so we have lots of opportunity to do oversight," Daines responded.
The remark quickly sparked pushback. Laura Rozen, a national security journalist, countered on X: "That is not oversight."
Former NBC News host Chuck Todd similarly mocked the claim on X, writing: "When was the VP placed under oath for this oversight dinner, before or after the first course?"
Under the War Powers Resolution of 1973, Congress retains the constitutional authority to authorize or terminate the use of U.S. military force abroad. The law requires the president to notify Congress within 48 hours of committing armed forces to military action and limits such deployments to 60 days without congressional approval. Every president since its passage has taken the position that the law unconstitutionally constrains executive authority, while Congress has periodically attempted to reassert its role — a constitutional tension the current Iran conflict has reignited.
The current conflict began with U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on February 28. Since then, Democrats have forced approximately 10 war powers votes in the Senate, according to CBS News, with the majority of Republicans voting to block the measures.
Vance hosted Republican senators for dinner at his residence on June 24, The Hill reported, just hours after President Donald Trump publicly clashed with Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA) over Cassidy's vote in favor of a war powers resolution the previous day.
Following that dinner — along with a separate Situation Room briefing with Vance and special envoy Steve Witkoff — Cassidy reversed his position on a nearly identical resolution, CNN reported.
The war powers resolution passed the Senate 50-48 on June 23, according to The Hill. Daines voted against it and indicated on Thursday that his position remained firm.
"I think it's unconstitutional, and I'll be voting against it," Daines said.
