Search engine giant Google, which is owned by Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG)(NASDAQ:GOOGL), has released its annual list of the top trending searches for 2025.
Here's a look at the top overall searches and searched news stories in the United States for the year and how some relate to the financial sector.
Top Google Searches 2025
The assassination of media personality and activist Charlie Kirk proved to be one of the most talked about items on Google for the year with the late founder of Turning Point USA topping the search list and his assassination ranking third.
Here were the top 10 trending searches on Google in 2025 for the United States:
- Charlie Kirk
- KPop Demon Hunters
- Labubu
- iPhone 17
- One Big Beautiful Bill Act
- Zohran Mamdani
- DeepSeek
- Government Shutdown
- FIFA Club World Cup
- Tariffs
These were the top 10 news items searched in 2025:
- One Big Beautiful Bill Act
- Government Shutdown
- Charlie Kirk assassination
- Tariffs
- No Kings protest
- Los Angelese fires
- New Pope chosen
- Epstein files
- U.S. Presidential Inauguration
- Hurricane Melissa
The Business Winners
Ranking second on the list of trending searches for the year was "KPop Demon Hunters," the hit animated movie on Netflix (NASDAQ:NFLX).
The surprise hit from Sony Animation became the most watched movie on Netflix of all time and saw the film's soundtrack and songs top charts as well.
Netflix has plans for another movie and has signed consumer products deals with both Mattel and Hasbro, which could increase the shelf life of the film and its popularity.
Labubu was a surprise hit and global phenomenon in 2025 and helped bring awareness to retailer Pop Mart (OTC:POPMF)(OTC:PMRTY).
Apple Inc (NASDAQ:AAPL) released the iPhone 17 in September and saw strong demand in the United States and globally. The release helped Apple set records in the fourth quarter with CEO Tim Cook saying more Apple company records could fall in the first quarter thanks to the smartphone.
Apple is also set to pass Samsung for the first time in over a decade as the global smartphone leader thanks to strong iPhone sales.
DeepSeek, a Chinse AI startup, sent shockwaves across the US technology sector in January with the company's AI models putting pressure on AI-related stocks, including Nvidia.
Tariffs, imposed by President Donald Trump, became a major talking point in the world of finance, sending stocks lower on multiple occasions when announced and raised in percentages on different countries around the world. With the Supreme Court set to rule on the lawfulness of tariffs soon, they could be a major trending topic in 2026 as well.
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Image: © Angela Piazza/Caller-Times / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
