A grim-faced Kevin McCarthy clenched the armrest of his seat in the House chamber as he was ousted from the speakership on Tuesday, the knuckles of his right hand turning whiter with every vote that assured he would lose the gavel in a move without precedent in modern US history.
The person who had orchestrated his removal, the far-right Republican congressman Matt Gaetz, was seated about 20ft behind him, at times leaning forward in anticipation and apparent excitement.
