U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Monday aimed at cracking down on ticket scalping and price gouging in the live entertainment industry.
Flanked by musician Kid Rock, a longtime supporter, Trump vowed to prevent “unscrupulous middlemen” from inflating ticket prices through resale markets.
The directive instructs the U.S. Attorney General and Treasury Secretary to use “all legal means” to combat price gouging and mandates the Federal Trade Commission to enforce transparency in ticket pricing at every stage of the purchasing process, including the secondary market.
Kid Rock, who sported a straw fedora and an American-flag-themed red suit at the signing ceremony, praised the move, stating that automated bots have allowed scalpers to resell tickets at “a 400-500 percent markup.”
“You can buy a ticket for $100, but by the time you check out, it’s $170,” he said.
The issue of ticket pricing has been a contentious one in the U.S. In 2023, the administration of former President Joe Biden sued Ticketmaster and its parent company, Live Nation Entertainment, over alleged monopoly practices.
In response to Trump’s executive order, Live Nation issued a statement on Monday supporting the initiative, while calling for stronger enforcement measures against ticket price manipulation.
