Trump Declares War on Ticket Scalpers—Will Fans Finally Get a Fair Deal?
Washington, D.C. – April 1, 2025
In a move that could reshape the live entertainment industry, former President Donald Trump has signed an executive order aimed at dismantling ticket-price gouging and scalper-driven resale scams. The controversial order, which comes amid ongoing antitrust battles against ticketing giant Ticketmaster, directs the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Attorney General Pam Bondi to crack down on predatory ticket sales that have priced ordinary fans out of concerts, festivals, and sporting events.
Trump was joined in the Oval Office by musician Kid Rock, a longtime critic of the ticketing industry’s exploitative resale market. “I’ve spoken to him over the years about it, and it bothers him,” Trump said, referring to Kid Rock’s frustration with the system. “It bothers a lot of artists. They set a $100 ticket price, and by the next night, it’s selling for $2,000. That’s insane.”
A Battle Years in the Making
The issue of ticket scalping and price gouging isn’t new, but it took center stage in 2022 during Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour when resale prices skyrocketed to tens of thousands of dollars. The fiasco triggered an avalanche of lawsuits and congressional investigations into Ticketmaster and its parent company, Live Nation, which many lawmakers accused of operating as a monopoly.
While the Biden administration attempted to curb “junk fees” in concert ticket sales by banning hidden charges at checkout, Trump’s order goes further, demanding rigorous enforcement of the Better Online Ticket Sales (BOTS) Act. This 2016 law was designed to prevent automated software from scooping up tickets in bulk before real fans have a chance to buy them—but critics argue that enforcement has been weak, allowing scalpers to thrive.
Now, Trump’s new executive order seeks to put real muscle behind the law, cracking down on bots, enforcing price transparency, and holding companies accountable for allowing resale markets to inflate prices beyond reasonable levels.
Ticketmaster Under Fire—Again
Ticketmaster, the dominant force in ticket sales, has long been accused of fueling the problem by controlling both the primary and secondary markets. The company has denied wrongdoing, but in a statement to CNN, Live Nation seemed to embrace Trump’s push for tougher resale restrictions.
“Scalpers and bots prevent fans from getting tickets at the prices artists set, and we thank President Trump for taking them head-on. We support any meaningful resale reforms—including more enforcement of the BOTS Act, caps on resale prices, and more,” the company said.
Despite this, many remain skeptical. Ticketmaster and Live Nation are currently facing an antitrust lawsuit from the Justice Department and 30 state attorneys general, alleging that they’ve abused their industry dominance to manipulate ticket prices and harm consumers.
What’s Next?
With live entertainment generating a staggering $132.6 billion annually and supporting over 900,000 jobs nationwide, the stakes are high. Fans are hopeful this latest crackdown will bring long-overdue relief, but the question remains—will Trump’s executive order actually level the playing field, or will scalpers and corporate giants find new loopholes to keep prices sky-high?
As the battle for fair ticket prices intensifies, one thing is clear: the war against ticket scalpers is far from over.
