In a striking revelation, Google has identified the late Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, as the most searched individual on its platform for the year 2025.
According to Western Journal, Kirk's name surpassed other popular search terms, including New York City's Democratic mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, the Netflix film K-Pop Demon Hunters, the iPhone 17, and the 43-day government shutdown. Authorities apprehended Tyler Robinson, 22, on the morning of September 12, accusing him of fatally shooting Kirk during a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University two days prior.
Google's Year in Search 2025 report highlighted Kirk's assassination as the third-most searched news event, eclipsing significant occurrences such as the Los Angeles wildfires in January, the selection of a new pope by the Roman Catholic Church, the Jeffrey Epstein files, President Donald Trump's second-term inauguration, and the tariffs he imposed in April. In the category of notable passings, Kirk led the search rankings, outpacing figures like actors Michelle Trachtenberg, Val Kilmer, Gene Hackman, and Diane Keaton, wrestler Hulk Hogan, Pope Francis, and Food Network host Anne Burrell.
Erika Kirk, who succeeded her husband as CEO of the conservative student organization, emerged as the fourth most trending person, surpassing individuals such as Pope Leo XIV, Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, and ABC late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel. Meanwhile, Robinson, the alleged assassin, ranked second among trending individuals on Google in 2025.
Turning Point USA has reportedly experienced a surge in interest, receiving over 100,000 inquiries about establishing new chapters since Kirk's assassination on September 10. This tragic event has not only captured the public's attention but also sparked a renewed interest in the conservative movement Kirk championed.
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