BREAKING: Kevin McCarthy REMOVED as House Speaker

The final tally showed 216 in favor of the motion to vacate, while 210 were opposed.

Though McCarthy is no longer third in line to the presidency, he will retain his seat. The House will now have to decide who, if anyone, has enough votes to take over as Speaker.

Until then, Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-NC) will act as Speaker pro tempore.

Earlier Tuesday, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) stood and repeated his motion to vacate. Rep Tom Cole (R-OK) rose to offer to table that motion. The 15-minute vote saw 208 Republicans vote in favor of McCarthy's leadership, and 11 against. All Democrats were in favor of vacating.

Following a 60-minute back and forth between those for and against vacating McCarthy's position, the final vote was taken.

Gaetz was able to initiate proceedings on his own thanks to the inclusion of the Jeffersonian Motion in the deal made when McCarthy accepted the Speakership in January. Under the agreement, a single person was permitted to introduce a motion to remove McCarthy if he "goes back on his word or policy agenda."

In the months since, McCarthy has been criticized by members of his own party for decisions regarding the appropriation of funds to Ukraine, among other things. He recently drew ire from Gaetz and his crew for teaming up with Democrats to pass a 45-day stopgap resolution to keep the government running, despite there not being a properly passed continuing resolution.

"You don't know chaos until you've seen where this Congress and this uniparty is bringing us," the Florida Congressman said in response to suggestions from reporters that removing the Speaker would throw the House into disarray.

Others, including Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) and Thomas Massie (R-KY), disagreed with Gaetz, and indicated that they would support McCarthy.

"I agree with you we need serious change," Greene said, "but there is no plan and no one capable even stepping up. Last time Freedom Caucus threw out a Speaker, we ended up with Paul Ryan who did not support President Trump’s agenda. Nothing can truly change until Trump is back in the WH."

Prior to the vote, McCarthy admitted it was "likely" that he would be vacated, noting that if all Democrats sided against him, they would only need five Republican votes.

This is a breaking story and will be updated.