A couple of days ago, it looked like the media-savvy and sharp-tongued Mr Gaetz, from Florida’s Hollywood, had enough votes to begin his coup.

Nevertheless, at times on Tuesday, it was the right-wing Florida rebel versus the rest of the party.

As other lawmakers observed recess hours before the first vote to oust a sitting Speaker, Mr Gaetz sat alone in the House chamber with the occasional Democratic lawmaker stopping to chat. There was a striking contrast on either side of the aisle as voting started and members of Congress streamed onto the House floor.

There was animated conversation and laughter among Democrats, as relaxed as if they were at a cocktail party.

In their caucus meeting on Tuesday, they decided to oppose McCarthy in unison and present Hakeem Jeffries as the best candidate for Speaker.

A number of members left that meeting room telling us they considered the Republican Speaker from California to be unprincipled, untrustworthy, and thus undeserving of rescue. The Republicans on the House floor appeared largely dejected after their attempts to persuade Democrats to support Mr McCarthy failed.

As they waited for the vote to begin, many sat quietly.

Meanwhile, Mr Gaetz sat at the back of the room with fellow defectors like Eli Crane and Tim Burchett, as well as others who had not yet supported him.

The moment Mr McCarthy stepped on to the floor, he tried to appear unfazed. As he huddled with allies, pulling playfully at one’s tie, he crossed his legs and sat back in his seat.