Summary:
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Google’s Year in Search reveals U.S. trends of 2025, reflecting a mix of digital culture and political upheaval.
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Top searches include Charlie Kirk’s tragic death, KPop Demon Hunters, Labubu toy, iPhone 17, and more.
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Users also sought information on the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, Zohran Mamdani, DeepSeek AI, government shutdown, and tariffs.
Google released its annual Year in Search, and the top trending U.S. searches of 2025 paint a clear picture of a country living between the digital online culture and political turmoil.
These aren’t the most searched terms overall. They’re the fastest-rising searches of the year, the topics that blew up, spread fast, and made people stop whatever they were doing to grab their phones.
Here are the Top 10 U.S. Trending Searches of 2025, in order:
1. Charlie Kirk
Charlie Kirk was the most searched term of the year after the conservative activist was fatally shot during a campus event at Utah Valley University. The incident prompted national media coverage and widespread public interest as details about the investigation and suspected shooter emerged.
2. KPop Demon Hunters
KPop Demon Hunters, an animated Netflix film featuring a K-pop girl group that fights demons, became a breakout hit. Its storyline, soundtrack, and rapid rise in global fandom generated major search volume throughout the year.
3. Labubu
Labubu, a popular designer toy from the company POP MART, continued its surge in U.S. interest. Blind-box releases, resale activity, and heavy TikTok visibility helped drive searches as the character gained mainstream traction.
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4. iPhone 17
Apple’s release of the iPhone 17 led to strong search activity around new AI features, design updates and satellite connectivity changes. The model’s launch followed the company’s typical fall event cycle, prompting widespread consumer interest.
5. One Big Beautiful Bill Act
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, a major federal policy package, trended as users searched for explanations of its provisions. Interest focused on how the legislation affected taxes, trade policies and government programs.
6. Zohran Mamdani
New York Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani drew national attention after being elected mayor of New York City. Searches centered on his background, policy positions and the impact of his campaign coalition.
7. DeepSeek
DeepSeek, a Chinese artificial intelligence platform, appeared in the top 10 as it gained widespread user adoption and regulatory attention in the United States. Searches focused on how the model works, where it can be accessed, and how it compares with U.S.-based AI tools.
8. Government shutdown
The 2025 federal government shutdown generated sustained search interest as Americans looked for updates on its duration, effects on federal agencies, worker furloughs, airport operations, and public services.
9. FIFA Club World Cup
The expanded FIFA Club World Cup, hosted in the United States for the first time, drove search traffic around match schedules, participating clubs, results and locations of tournament venues across the country.
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10. Tariffs
Tariffs rounded out the top 10 as U.S.–China trade developments and shifting import costs affected consumer prices and business operations. Searches focused on new tariff announcements, economic effects, and sector-specific changes.
