But his moment in the sun was short-lived, extinguished just two days later by his long-time political rival, Representative Matt Gaetz of Florida, who filed a motion to remove Mr McCarthy from his post.

“It’s to the benefit of this country that we have a better Speaker of the House than Kevin McCarthy,” Mr Gaetz said, as he celebrated Mr McCarthy’s ouster.

The manoeuvre not only devastated Mr McCarthy’s political ambition, but disoriented Washington and plunged the House back into chaos. Republicans once again must decide who they want to be Speaker, just nine months after the tumultuous vote that elected Mr McCarthy in the first place.

For Mr Gaetz at least, the revolt was a rousing success, removing his political nemesis from power and making himself, a relatively junior congressman and reliable flame-thrower, a main character in the drama now consuming Capitol Hill. But it has also made the already unpopular Mr Gaetz, 41, even more isolated in Washington.