A Year-End Review of Google Trends Data

In a recent analysis of Google Trends for 2025, the assassination of Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, stood out as the most searched news story worldwide. His name topped the search charts in the US as well.

The data reveals that “Charlie Kirk Assassination” ranked first among global news searches, while “Charlie Kirk” came in third overall, just behind “India vs England” at second and “Gemini” at the top spot.

In the United States, “Charlie Kirk” was the most searched term on Google, with “Charlie Kirk Assassination” taking third place in the news category, following “Government Shutdown” at second and “One Big Beautiful Bill” leading the list.

Interestingly, Erika Kirk, Charlie’s widow, was the fourth most searched individual in the “People” category, even surpassing Pope Leo XIV, who gained notoriety as the first American-born pope this year.

Tyler Robinson, the suspect in Kirk’s assassination, became the second most searched person in the US. Meanwhile, Zoran Mamdani, the New York Democratic Socialist mayor-elect, secured the top spot in Google’s “people” search.

On a global scale, Robinson was the fourth most searched individual, following Jimmy Kimmel in third place. He had a brief hiatus from his show after suggesting that the suspects in Kirk’s assassination were part of a “MAGA gang,” while also ridiculing President Trump’s reaction to the incident, which included ordering the American flag be flown at half-mast.

Charlie Kirk was shot on September 10 in a shocking attack that occurred in daylight as he sought to engage in dialogue with students at Utah Valley University.

For many, Kirk’s assassination and the subsequent reactions from some on the left revealed a grim reality about societal values. It raised questions about the extremism that, according to Turning Point USA’s founders, has increasingly permeated American education.

As the search for Kirk’s assassin intensified, executive producer Andrew Corbett criticized media coverage, suggesting that few knew about Robinson’s left-wing affiliations.

In a recent interview, Corbett referenced a poll indicating that only 24 percent of voters recognized that the suspect was a leftist. Observers noted that Robinson had previously made jokes about harm to conservatives and had expressed disdain for a previous assassination attempt on President Trump.

Additionally, it was reported that Robinson shifted to leftist viewpoints following a relationship with his transgender roommate, who had a significant influence on his recent beliefs.

After the assassination, Utah’s Governor Spencer Cox disclosed that the rifle cartridges believed to be used by Robinson bore engravings with provocative messages, such as one that read, “Hey, fascist! Catch me!”

It’s worth noting that left-wing activists often use charged language to describe conservatives, including Kirk, which has led to concern that such rhetoric is increasingly dangerous. This has become particularly evident in light of recent violent incidents involving conservative figures.