A simplified recap of some of the biggest moments of 2025.
by Elliott Musser
Opinion Editor
2025 opened with tragedy when multiple vehicle attacks killed 15 people on the day of the new year. Extreme wildfires in California also devastated millions of people. On January 20th president Donald Trump was inaugurated and became the 47th president of the united states, followed quickly by a flurry of executive orders including pardons for many who stormed the capital on January 6th, 2021. The month also featured raging debates over who would win a fight between 100 men and one gorilla.
In February music icon Beyoncé became the first black woman to ever win best country album at the Grammys while rap artist Kendrick Lamar won song of the year for his infamous Drake diss Not Like Us. The year also marked the beginning of president Donald Trump’s tariff policy when tariffs were placed on China, Canada, Mexico and other countries. In sports the Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Kansas City Chiefs in the Superbowl and Luka Doncic was controversially traded to the Mavericks. The Gen-Z stare became a popular meme on the internet.
In March Russia’s war in Ukraine reached a fourth year as the conflict raged on. March was recognized by many to be an uneventful month, marked by TikToks describing the active “Great Meme Drought of 2025”.
April became a month of adventure when music star Katy Perry entered space on a Blue Origin Flight with the first multiperson all female space flight in history. The flight sparked controversy over environmental concerns, with many calling Perry hypocritical. In other news Pope Francis died and the internet began to speculate over who the next pope might be. The Minecraft Movie became one of the most successful movies in history making about 720 million dollars in the box office, largely thanks to the viral chicken jockey meme.
In May Pope Leo XIV became the first American pope shocking many. A brief conflict also occurred between India and Pakistan.
In June 2025 “No Kings” protests spread through the country with millions of civilians protesting the United States government. The United States bombed Iranian nuclear sites, during Israel’s war with Iran. The Edmonton Oilers won the Stanley Cup and the Oklahoma City Thunder won the NBA finals.
In July extreme rainfall sparked flash floods responsible for 135 deaths in Texas. Two executives at a large tech company were seen together at a Coldplay concert hiding from the camera. The man who was the CEO was discovered to be cheating and soon resigned.
August marked the release of ChatGPT’s newest model GPT-5, the most advanced AI model by OpenAI yet. President Donald Trump ordered the deployment of the national guard into Washington D.C. Music icon Taylor Swift and NFL player Travis Kelce announced their engagement to one another.
In September, 15 year old Carlo Acutis who died from cancer became a saint. Political figure Charlie Kirk was shot and killed during an event in Utah, sparking outrage and debate over political violence. Jimmy Kimmel was later removed from the air after making remarks seen as negative about Kirk, creating controversy over free speech.
In October music artist Sean “Diddy” Combs was sentenced to 50 months in prison. A team of thieves broke into the Louvre and stole valuable artifacts in broad day sparking concern over potential security flaws. Demolition on the east wing of the White House marked the beginning of the creation of the White House ballroom. In other news a massive NBA gambling scandal surrounding Terry Rozier and Chauncey Billups began, leading to discussions about potential corruption in sports.
The Los Angeles Dodgers won the World Series in November led by star athlete Shohei Ohtani who also won MVP. Self proclaimed democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani was elected mayor of New York City with a promise to make the city more affordable. The last penny was officially minted marking the end of the coin. The longest government shutdown in United States history ended after 43 days. President Donald Trump signed legislation ordering the release of the “Epstein Files” amidst scrutiny.
In December MLS team Inter Miami won their first MLS cup led by Lionel Messi. A social media ban was enacted in Australia for those under the age of 16. Shortly after a father and son opened fire at a Hanukkah celebration on Bondi Beach killing 15. It became the largest terrorist attack in Australian history.
