Time magazine leaves Charlie Kirk’s murder off 2025 year-in-review cover and top stories list
NEW YORK, NEW YORK: Time magazine omitted the shocking murder of conservative leader Charlie Kirk from its 2025 'Year in Review' feature and top stories list, despite his killing ranking among the most-searched and widely reported events of the year.
The magazine’s year-end cover includes photos of President Donald Trump, pop star Taylor Swift, primatologist Jane Goodall, Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani, firefighters battling the California wildfires, an artificial intelligence computer chip and rock singer Ozzy Osbourne.
However, it made no reference to the fatal shooting of Kirk on its cover or in its top news roundup.
Kirk’s killing drew major national attention
Kirk was killed on September 10 when he was shot in the neck while speaking at a public event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah.
The conservative activist co-founded Turning Point USA, a prominent youth political movement with thousands of campus chapters and frequent national events.
His death was widely reported across major news outlets and became one of the most-searched stories of 2025.
Despite the widespread coverage of Kirk’s killing and its impact on conservative circles, Time chose not to include it in its year-in-review publication or in the selections highlighted on its cover.
The magazine’s omission has drawn attention from commentators noting the contrast between what Time featured and what major news-tracking services listed as significant in 2025.
Kirk’s killing featured on ABC, Google among 2025’s Top Stories
The absence of Kirk’s killing is notable because other major year-end news lists did include it among the most significant stories of 2025.
ABC News listed Kirk’s killing as one of the year’s top national stories, alongside major political developments and international events.
Google’s top stories were also dominated by the shocking murder of Kirk, alongside coverage of the government shutdown, the election of a new pope, and major AI breakthroughs.
Popular viral trends of the year included the Labubu toy and ditalini pasta, capturing widespread attention online.
Time’s year-in-review selections focused on figures and topics spanning politics, culture, science and entertainment, Kirk’s absence from the list has sparked discussion about how editorial decisions shape the narrative of what constitutes the year’s most defining events.
