Breaking: McCarthy impeached as House Speaker, first in US history

Republican Kevin McCarthy has been impeached as Speaker of the House of Representatives in the United States.

This is for the first time in U.S. history that a speaker of the House has been fired.

McCarthy spent 269-day as speaker, ending hus reign by a 216-210 vote, a move that has no marker in modern history and paralyzes Congress for the time being.

The rebellion, led by conservative hardliner Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., has roiled the House in chaos. The move to oust McCarthy – known as a motion to vacate – had the support of a handful of hard-right lawmakers who have expressed anger at McCarthy for working with Democrats to avert a government shutdown.

McCarthy “has failed to take a stand where it matters. So if he won’t, I will,” Gaetz shared in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter on Tuesday. The lawmaker led a group of eight Republicans who voted to remove the speaker, joined by 208 Democrats who at times giggled at the GOP’s infighting.

Republicans weren’t laughing, however, as the civil war has cast a shadow over their majority. During the debate some accused Gaetz of grandstanding and hurtling the House into chaos without a clear plan as to who, if anyone, would take the job.

Republican Rep. Patrick McHenry of North Carolina is temporarily leading the House after Kevin McCarthy was ousted. McHenry, one of McCarthy’s closest allies, is known as the speaker pro tempore.

The speaker pro tempore has far more limited powers compared to a speaker of the House, but he will preside over the lower chamber until a new speaker is elected.