In a historic move, Kevin McCarthy, a Republican, was voted out as Speaker of the US House of Representatives, marking the first time in the nation's history that a sitting Speaker was ousted. The vote, with a simple majority of 216 to 210, led to McCarthy relinquishing his position amidst growing questions about his leadership. Eight Republicans joined forces with Democrats to remove him from the role.
The presiding officer declared, "The office of the speaker is hereby declared vacant," as a hushed silence fell over the House. Following the vote, McCarthy announced that he would not seek the speakership again, leaving the position open for contenders. Patrick McHenry would serve temporarily as the Speaker until a new one is elected.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre expressed President Joe Biden's hope that the House would swiftly elect a new speaker, emphasizing the President's readiness to collaborate with the elected individual.
Matt Gaetz, a far-right Florida congressman, spearheaded the efforts to remove McCarthy, citing his failure to take a stand on critical issues. McCarthy's leadership had been under scrutiny within the GOP, particularly after he reached a deal with Democrats to avert a government shutdown. This deal prevented Republicans from advancing a bill that would have imposed significant cuts on several of President Biden's social programs. McCarthy's removal came after Gaetz initiated the process, marking a remarkable turn of events in US political history.
