It’s hard to believe how quickly 2025 has flown by. The year has been packed with so many major events, surprise headlines, and fast-moving viral moments that most people can barely keep track of what happened last month, let alone back in January. Every week seemed to bring something new that took over our feeds, dominated group chats, or made everyone stop and say, “Wait… that was THIS year?”
From Donald Trump returning to the White House, to the devastating Central Texas floods, to Katy Perry ending up in space, 2025 has felt like a nonstop stream of stories big enough to define an entire decade. And those are only the moments everyone remembers. Countless other events—some shocking, some strange, some just unbelievably chaotic—came and went so quickly that they slipped out of public memory almost as fast as they appeared.
That’s why we put together this list. These are the moments from 2025 you probably forgot happened, even though they made headlines, went viral, or had people talking all around the world. Let’s take a look back at the year that never seemed to slow down.
January: LA Wildfires
January already seems like a lifetime ago, and so do the LA wildfires. At the beginning of 2025, several huge wildfires broke out in Los Angeles and ripped through communities, causing city-wide evacuations.
The fires tore across thousands of acres, and at least 30 lives were lost. Many families lost their homes, and entire neighborhoods were changed forever. A lot of big-name celebrities lost their homes in the fires as well, including Anthony Hopkins and Jamie Lee Curtis.
Donald Trump’s Second Inauguration
January also brought Donald Trump’s second inauguration. He was sworn in as the 47th President of the United States on January 20th. The ceremony took place inside the United States Capitol Rotunda because freezing weather and strong winds made holding it outside unsafe.
In his speech, Trump promised sweeping changes: he said he would tighten immigration rules, expand domestic oil drilling, reverse environmental policies, and reshape the country’s direction. His return marked a rare moment: only one U.S. president before him, Grover Cleveland, had ever served two non-consecutive terms.
The Gulf of America
With Trump’s inauguration taking place in January, that means everything he’s done since has also been in 2025. It really has been a long year. On the day he was sworn in, he signed Executive Order 14172, officially renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America for U.S. federal use.
The renaming sparked controversy because no international body or foreign nation agreed to it. While many U.S. agencies and some private map services quickly adopted “Gulf of America,” outside the United States the name “Gulf of Mexico” remains widely used.
TikTok Ban
In January 2025, TikTok suddenly went dark in the U.S. after a law banning the app was upheld by the courts. Many creators—people who made videos every day and earned money from followers—posted heartfelt goodbyes before the shutdown.
But the shutdown didn’t last forever. On his first day in office, Donald J. Trump signed an order delaying the ban for 75 days, and in mid-February TikTok returned to the Apple App Store and Google Play.
Collision Over Potomac
On the night of January 29th, the passenger jet American Eagle Flight 5342 and the military helicopter Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk collided in mid-air over the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) while the plane was on final approach. The crash happened around 8:48 p.m., about half a mile before the runway.
All 67 people aboard both aircraft (the 64 passengers and crew members on the jet, plus the three soldiers on the helicopter) died, making it the deadliest U.S. air disaster in more than two decades. Rescue crews pulled dozens of bodies from the icy river and recovered wreckage over the following days.
February: Kendrick Lamar Performs at Super Bowl
On February 9th, Kendrick Lamar took center stage at Super Bowl LIX halftime, delivering a dramatic performance with hits like “HUMBLE.” and “DNA.”, joined by SZA, Serena Williams, and actor Samuel L. Jackson dressed as Uncle Sam.
The show closed with “Not Like Us,” a diss track directed at Drake, and that lit up the internet almost immediately. But not everyone loved it. Many conservative commentators criticized the show, calling it “the worst halftime show ever.” They claimed the performance was confusing, divisive, or too aggressive for a mass televised event.
Anglerfish Surfacing
In early February, a female Humpback anglerfish was spotted swimming to the ocean surface near Tenerife in the Canary Islands—a location where these fish are never seen in daylight. This species usually lives miles below water in darkness, so seeing it emerge alive and near shore was almost unheard of. Sadly, the fish died shortly afterwards, and researchers preserved its body for study.
The footage of the anglerfish’s “last journey” exploded on social media. On TikTok, Instagram and other platforms, people shared reaction videos, art, poems, cartoons. Many saw the fish like a tiny tragic hero swimming toward “the light.” One online post wrote that the fish “finally saw a light she didn’t create.”
Trump and Zelensky Argue
On February 28th, Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met at the Oval Office in the White House to negotiate a deal: the U.S. would invest in Ukraine’s rare minerals in exchange for aid and security support. The plan was supposed to end Russia’s war, but the deal fell apart when the meeting blew up and turned into a shouting match in front of reporters.
Trump accused Zelenskyy of “gambling with World War III” and warned that Ukraine was risking millions of lives. Meanwhile, Zelenskyy pushed back strongly, showing photos of civilian suffering and rejecting calls to give up territory. In the end, Zelenskyy left the White House without signing the agreement.
March: Justin Trudeau Leaves Office
In January, Trudeau announced he would step down as prime minister and leader of Liberal Party of Canada after nearly ten years in power. He said his government had become too divided inside, and that Canadians deserved a “real choice” at the next election.
He stayed on in office until a new party leader was chosen. On March 14th, his successor Mark Carney formally replaced him. His choice to leave triggered big uncertainty for Canada’s future, especially at a time of rising costs and global economic pressure.
Stranded Astronauts Return Home
On March 18th, NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams—who had been stuck on the International Space Station (ISS) for more than nine months—finally came home. Their original eight-to-ten-day mission turned into one of the most unusual long-duration stays aboard ISS in years.
They launched to space in June 2024 aboard the first crewed flight of Boeing Starliner, but when that spacecraft developed serious thruster and helium-leak problems, it returned to Earth empty. NASA decided it was too risky for Wilmore and Williams to come back that way, so they had to wait for the SpaceX Crew Dragon.
April: Trump Announces Tariffs
In April 2025, President Trump announced sweeping tariffs, calling it "Liberation Day." A universal 10% tariff on imports began on April 5, with higher rates for specific countries starting April 9. The move aimed to address trade deficits and boost U.S. manufacturing but sparked global backlash and market instability.
Critics argued the tariffs would raise prices for American consumers and harm global trade. Economists noted the policy's potential to shrink the U.S. economy and increase inflation. Despite these concerns, the administration framed the tariffs as a step toward economic independence and national security.
Blue Origin Flight
On April 14, 2025, Blue Origin sent six women, including pop star Katy Perry, into space on the sub-orbital flight NS-31. The trip launched from West Texas on a reusable rocket from the company’s “New Shepard” program. The flight lasted about 10–11 minutes, reaching space for a few minutes of weightlessness before coming safely back to Earth.
This was the first all-female crew of a human spaceflight since 1963, marking a milestone in space tourism and women’s representation in space. Along with Perry, the crew included journalist Gayle King, pilot and media figure Lauren Sánchez, and three scientists/creators. The flight drew lots of public attention—some saw it as inspiring, others as a celebrity stunt—but it remains a memorable moment from 2025.
Pope Francis Dies
On April 21st, Pope Francis died at age 88 in Vatican City. The Vatican said he passed away at 7:35 a.m. after suffering a stroke and heart failure, following months of health struggles that included serious respiratory illness and double pneumonia.
Pope Francis led the Catholic Church as its 266th pope for 12 years. Many people around the world remember him for his kindness, care for the poor and marginalized, and efforts to make the Church more humble and inclusive.
May: New Pope Elected
In May, after the death of Pope Francis, the world watched as cardinals gathered in a secret meeting—a 2025 papal conclave—inside the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican City. After days of prayer and discussion, on the second day of May 8th, a vote was successful.
That day, white smoke rose from the chapel chimney, signaling to the world that a new pope had been chosen. The cardinals elected Robert Francis Prevost, the first pope from the United States. He took the name Pope Leo XIV.
June: Labubu Craze Begins
2025 was truly the year of the Labubu doll. These “ugly-cute” plush toys made by Pop Mart exploded in popularity, becoming a trend among teens and young adults worldwide. People queued outside stores, refreshed apps, and bought dozens just in hopes of getting rare editions from “blind boxes.”
However, on social media platforms like TikTok, some viewers claimed the dolls carried negative spiritual energy or represented pagan/demonic imagery. This backlash created a kind of “Satanic panic” online, with some people urging Christians to avoid or even destroy Labubus.
July: Central Texas Floods
In early July 2025, heavy rains triggered by a slow-moving storm and moist air dumped massive rainfall over Central Texas. Guadalupe River rose more than 26 feet in under an hour in some places. The floods battered the region’s Texas Hill Country, destroying homes, washing out roads, and sweeping away buildings and trees.
Rescue teams scrambled as the floodwaters surged, but the swift rise left little time for warning. At least 135 people died, making it one of the deadliest inland flood disasters in recent U.S. history. The disaster damaged thousands of homes and businesses and forced major relief efforts.
Dalai Lama Confirms Lineage
In July 2025, the Dalai Lama celebrated his 90th birthday with grand festivities in Dharamsala, India, attended by thousands, including global dignitaries and supporters like actor Richard Gere. He received messages from international leaders, including former U.S. presidents.
During the celebrations, the Dalai Lama reaffirmed that his lineage would continue through reincarnation, with the Gaden Phodrang Trust overseeing the process. Chinese officials rejected this declaration and said the next Dalai Lama will be born in China and approved by them.
Coldplay Kiss Cam
We all saw the viral moment of the cheaters caught red-handed on the kiss cam at the Coldplay concert, but it’s hard to believe that was all the way back in July. In the video, an embracing couple panicked, ducked, and hid after realizing they were on the big screen.
The man was later identified as Astronomer CEO Andy Byron and the woman as Kristin Cabot, his company’s head of HR. They were both married to other people at the time. After the video went viral, the company placed them on leave and launched an investigation. Byron resigned just days later.
Sydney Sweney American Eagle Ad
At the end of July, American Eagle released a new jeans campaign featuring actress Sydney Sweeney. The ad used a pun—“genes” vs. “jeans”—showing Sweeney saying things like “My jeans are blue,” while referencing traits like hair color and eye color.
The backlash online was immediate. Many critics said the ad felt tone-deaf and accused it of echoing eugenic or white-supremacist ideas because the campaign highlighted a blonde, blue-eyed actress and used language talking about “great genes.”
September: Charlie Kirk Killed
On September 10th, Conservative activist Charlie Kirk was speaking at a campus event at Utah Valley University when he was shot in front of a large crowd of students and supporters. He was rushed to the hospital but died later that day.
His death shocked many people across America. Supporters and critics alike reacted. Some mourned him as a strong voice in politics, others feared his killing would worsen political violence. The tragedy sparked serious conversations about safety and free speech on college campuses.
TikTok Predicts the Rapture
On social media in September, a wave of TikTok videos claimed the world would end and believers would be “taken up” on September 23 or 24. The prediction came from Joshua Mhlakela, a preacher who said he had a vision that Jesus would return then.
Some people took it seriously: selling their cars, quitting jobs, or getting ready for final “heaven-ward” departure. Others posted jokes, memes, or advice for “those left behind.” When nothing happened on the predicted dates, many viewers felt angry, sad, or relieved. Regardless, the trend quickly faded.
Gaza Peace Plan Announced
On September 29th, U.S. President Donald J. Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stood at the White House and unveiled a 20-point plan designed to end the war in Gaza. The plan promised that, if both sides agreed, fighting would stop immediately and all hostages would be returned within 72 hours.
In return, Israel would release many Palestinian prisoners, and Gaza would be governed by a temporary Palestinian committee under an international “Board of Peace,” with rebuilding efforts and humanitarian aid promised. The leaders called this a historic moment, but the plan’s success still depended on whether the armed group Hamas accepted the deal.
October: Government Shutdown Begins
On October 1st, the federal government shut down because Congress failed to pass the laws funding the government for the new fiscal year. During the shutdown, about 750,000 federal workers were sent home without pay, and many more worked without pay.
Some government services stopped: national parks closed, many agencies paused operations, research and certain permits were delayed. It hurt the economy, slowed travel, and disrupted many programs. It lasted until November 12th, when lawmakers finally approved a spending bill and the president signed it, ending the longest shutdown in U.S. history.
The Louvre Heist
In what was probably the most exciting 2025 news, on October 19th, thieves broke into Louvre Museum in Paris during regular visiting hours and stole eight priceless royal jewels, including tiaras, necklaces and brooches.
The robbery grabbed global attention because it seemed like something out of a movie. The heist took less than eight minutes, and the thieves escaped using a lift and scooters, shocking people around the world.
Hurricane Melissa Slams Jamacia
On October 28th, Hurricane Melissa smashed into Jamaica as a ferocious Category 5 storm, with wind speeds up to 185 mph and torrential rain. The storm ripped off roofs, knocked down power lines and uprooted trees, sending floodwaters rushing through towns near the coast and the countryside.
Many people lost homes, roads were blocked, hospitals were damaged, towns were without electricity or clean water. The hurricane captured worldwide attention because it was the strongest storm ever recorded to hit Jamaica directly, and it showed just how vulnerable islands are when massive hurricanes strike.
