2025 was a year of dramatic political shifts and wrenching events. Donald Trump returned to the presidency while Pope Francis died and was succeeded by Pope Leo XIV. The year included a fragile Israel‑Hamas ceasefire and the release of hostages, a deadly Bondi Beach terrorist attack, catastrophic floods in Central Texas, and high‑profile domestic controversies over deportations and political violence. Off‑year U.S. elections favored Democrats and courts weighed in on several major legal battles.
2025: A Month‑by‑Month Review Of The Year's Biggest Headlines
Donald Trump is sworn in as the 47th President of the United States by Chief Justice John Roberts, as Melania Trump holds the Bible, at the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., Jan. 20, 2025. / Credit: MORRY GASH/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
Here is a clear, month‑by‑month look at the major stories that shaped 2025 — from politics and international conflicts to natural disasters and high‑profile criminal cases.
January
Donald Trump was inaugurated as the 47th President of the United States, returning to the White House as the second person in U.S. history to serve non‑consecutive terms. At the inauguration in Washington, he declared, "America's decline is over."
In this photo released by the Salvadoran government, inmates deported from the U.S. - allegedly linked to criminal organizations - are seen at the Terrorism Confinement Center (also known as CECOT) in Tecoluca, El Salvador, March 16, 2025. / Credit: Salvadoran government via Getty Images
February
The Philadelphia Eagles won Super Bowl LIX, defeating the Kansas City Chiefs 40‑22. Jalen Hurts was named Super Bowl MVP after leading the Eagles to a decisive victory that denied the Chiefs a third straight championship.
March
The U.S. government deported nearly 280 migrants to a prison in El Salvador without offering hearings or trials, citing a rarely used 18th‑century wartime statute. A later watchdog review reported that some detainees were subjected to abuse and torture. Federal judges signaled legal pushback, suggesting the administration sought to circumvent established legal protections and ordering reviews and returns in related cases.
Pope Leo XIV delivers the Regina Caeli prayer in St. Peter's Square on May 11, 2025 in Vatican City. / Credit: Franco Origlia/Getty Images
April
Pope Francis died, prompting widespread mourning among the world’s roughly 1.4 billion Catholics and drawing global attention to the Vatican.
May
The conclave elected Chicago‑born Cardinal Robert Prevost as pope; he took the name Pope Leo XIV, becoming the first American to lead the Catholic Church. He delivered his first address from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica.
A memorial is seen on the desk of DFL State Rep. Melissa Hortman in the House chambers at the Minnesota State Capitol, June 16, 2025 in St. Paul. Hortman and her husband, Mark Hortman, were shot at their home on June 14. DFL State Sen. John Hoffman and his wife were also shot and hospitalized in a separate incident. / Credit: Steven Garcia/Getty Images
June
Minnesota state lawmaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark Hortman, were fatally shot at their home in an attack authorities described as politically motivated. The suspect, Vance Boelter, was arrested; the case intensified national concerns about political violence.
July
Catastrophic flooding in Central Texas killed at least 135 people, including 27 campers and counselors from Camp Mystic. Victims' families sought accountability and legal remedies while state lawmakers and agencies faced pressure to improve camp safety and emergency response procedures.
Search and rescue teams look for the missing along the Guadalupe River on July 7, 2025 in Hunt, Texas. / Credit: Joshua Lott, The Washington Post via Getty Images
August
President Trump ordered National Guard units to Washington, D.C., a rare domestic deployment that prompted legal challenges. Federal courts issued blocks or injunctions in several jurisdictions pending legal review of the orders.
September
A shooting at a campus event in Utah killed conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Authorities arrested a suspect on murder charges; the investigation and related campus reactions prompted scrutiny of security and speech issues at universities.
Charlie Kirk throws hats to the crowd after arriving at Utah Valley University on September 10, 2025 in Orem, Utah. Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, was shot and killed during an appearance at the university. / Credit: Trent Nelson, The Salt Lake Tribune/Getty Images
October
Israel and Hamas reached a ceasefire agreement, and Hamas released the remaining 20 living Israeli hostages. The truce was fragile: both sides accused one another of violations, and sporadic violence and retaliatory strikes continued to threaten stability.
November
November ended the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. Off‑year elections that month saw Democrats win the majority of competitive races, a result widely interpreted as an early referendum on the new administration.
Zohran Mamdani celebrates victory as New York City's next mayor, at the Brooklyn Paramount Theater in Brooklyn, November 4, 2025. / Credit: ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images
December
A terrorist attack at a Hanukkah celebration on Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, left 15 people dead after two gunmen opened fire. The nation held vigils and the government announced plans for a gun buyback program and honors for civilians credited with helping victims.
Across the year: These stories dominated headlines — covering transitions in political power, international conflict and diplomacy, human rights concerns, extreme weather and public safety crises.
Story produced by Robert Marston. Editor: Karen Brenner.
