25 Photographs That Defined a Tumultuous 2025 in U.S. Politics

The United States experienced extraordinary political upheaval in 2025 after a historic presidential election returned Donald Trump to the White House in January. Over the course of the year, federal priorities shifted toward aggressive immigration enforcement, steep tariffs and confrontational foreign-policy moves. The year was also marked by mass protests, political violence, high-profile deaths and fierce debates over transparency and media access. These 25 images captured the moments that shaped a highly polarized national narrative.

Photo Highlights

01. On the four-year anniversary of the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol attack, Vice President Kamala Harris presided over the Senate to certify the 2024 election results. In a solemn moment she announced the electoral vote totals and reflected on the fragility of American democracy.

02. Trump’s return to the presidency had international ripple effects. In Canada, longtime Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced he would step back in the months after the inauguration; banker Mark Carney later succeeded him after the Liberal Party retained power. Trudeau subsequently entered a relationship with pop star Katy Perry.

03. Former President Jimmy Carter, who died at 100 on Dec. 29, 2024, was honored with funeral services in Washington, D.C., and Plains, Georgia, where residents lined the streets to pay tribute as his casket passed en route to interment beside his wife Rosalynn.

04. Trump was sworn in for a second, nonconsecutive term on Jan. 20. At 78 he became the oldest U.S. president to take the oath and delivered an inaugural address that criticized the prior administration and promised a so-called golden age for the country.

05. A tense Oval Office meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the spring ended without a signed natural-resources agreement after a public dispute with Vice President JD Vance; Zelenskyy reportedly left early and the conflict underscored uncertain prospects for resolving the Russia-Ukraine war.

06. Elon Musk, a prominent 2024 Trump backer, served briefly as an adviser heading the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) before their relationship fractured. Musk criticized administration policies, accused leaders of mishandling Epstein-related records, launched the America Party and later attended a controversial state dinner in November.

07. Progressive leaders mobilized in response. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Bernie Sanders launched a nationwide 'Fighting Oligarchy' tour, staging dozens of events to spotlight wealth concentration and push back against perceived corporate influence on politics.

08. The White House Rose Garden was dramatically altered when the lawn was removed and replaced with a paved patio later dubbed the 'Rose Garden Club,' a change that generated debate about preservation and presidential style.

09. To mark his 79th birthday, Trump staged a military parade in Washington, D.C., involving thousands of soldiers and costing an estimated tens of millions of dollars; the spectacle prompted counterprotests branded 'No Kings Day' in hundreds of cities.

10. In a major upset, New York Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani defeated former Gov. Andrew Cuomo to win the Democratic mayoral nomination and later won the general election, becoming New York City's first democratic socialist and first Muslim mayor.

11. Political violence devastated Minnesota when a gunman allegedly disguised as a law-enforcement officer attacked lawmakers at home on June 14. State Rep. Melissa Hortman, her husband Mark and their dog were killed; State Sen. John Hoffman and his wife survived. The suspect, Vance Boelter, faced multiple charges.

12. Russian President Vladimir Putin returned to the United States for talks with Trump in Anchorage, Alaska — his first U.S. visit since 2015. The summit aimed to advance negotiations on the Russia-Ukraine conflict but failed to produce a ceasefire resolution.

13. Protests over ICE operations in Chicago captured a disturbing image of Rev. David Black being struck by a pepper-ball projectile and pepper-sprayed by agents. DHS officials said protesters obstructed ICE operations; demonstrators denied those claims, and the episode fueled scrutiny of immigration-enforcement tactics.

14. The assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk at a Turning Point USA event on Sept. 10 shocked the nation. A large memorial in Glendale, Arizona, blended grief with partisan politics; Kirk's widow Erika publicly forgave the accused shooter during the ceremony.

15. On Oct. 8 the administration announced a ceasefire framework between Israel and Hamas that included a phased Israeli troop withdrawal from much of Gaza and the return of hostages. Hamas released living hostages five days later, though tensions and sporadic violence continued.

16. Pentagon reporters staged a high-profile walkout after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth introduced a new press agreement that many journalists said would severely limit independent coverage. Most reporters refused to sign, and a new press corps of pro-administration figures later emerged.

17. The No Kings protests returned in October to oppose federal deployments of law-enforcement and military forces in Democratic-led cities. Organizers framed the demonstrations as a defense of democratic norms, while some officials warned of extremist elements infiltrating protests.

18. Erika Kirk, who became Turning Point CEO after her husband's death, drew attention when she introduced Vice President Vance at a campus event with a public embrace that prompted social-media discussion about political optics and mourning in public life.

19. A man fainted during a White House press conference on Nov. 6 about lower costs for weight-loss medications, abruptly halting the event. An image of President Trump standing as staffers rushed to help went viral as a snapshot of an often chaotic administration year.

20. On Air Force One on Nov. 14, President Trump rebuked Bloomberg reporter Catherine Lucey when she asked about potentially incriminating material in Jeffrey Epstein's private emails, calling for quiet in language that many critics described as demeaning. The exchange sparked a wave of press-conduct concerns.

21. The Epstein files dominated late-year controversy and prompted bipartisan calls for transparency. The House passed the Epstein Files Transparency Act by a 427-1 margin, and a high-profile press conference with survivors and members of both parties intensified pressure for disclosure. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene later announced her resignation effective Jan. 5, 2026, citing tensions that included disputes over Epstein-related revelations.

22. The White House installed a 'Presidential Walk of Fame' along the West Colonnade featuring portraits of presidents in election order. President Joe Biden's portrait was replaced with an image of an autopen, reflecting the president's critics' accusations about his use of signature-reproducing tools.

23. Former President George W. Bush delivered a eulogy at the funeral of former Vice President Dick Cheney, who died at 84. Cheney was remembered for his influence in modern vice-presidential power and for crossing party lines on key endorsements late in life.

24. Controversial demolition and construction on the White House east side began in October to make way for a proposed 90,000-square-foot ballroom. The work affected the First Lady's Office, the East Colonnade, the family theater and historic gardens, drawing criticism from preservationists and the public.

25. After a MAGA-aligned Kennedy Center board voted to rename the institution to include Donald Trump's name, crews were photographed updating the signage — a move that sparked condemnation from members of the Kennedy family and public debate about monuments, legacy and cultural institutions.

These photographs, taken together, tell a story of a polarized nation confronting legal, cultural and geopolitical upheaval, with images that will likely inform how historians interpret 2025.