Trump Signs Executive Order to Combat Ticket Scalping

President Donald J. Trump, accompanied by Kid Rock, signed an executive order targeting ticket price-gouging. The patriotic singer stood by the president’s side as he inked the order aimed at addressing unethical ticket scalping practices.

Key aspects of the executive order include:

• Directing the Federal Trade Commission to address unethical ticket scalping
• Ensuring resellers comply with competition laws
• Overseeing enforcement of regulations, including the BOTS Act, by U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi
• Tasking Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent with ensuring scalpers report earnings to the IRS

With a $132.6 billion industry and nearly a million jobs at stake, the implications are significant. Kid Rock praised the changes, noting that excessive resale prices harm both fans and artists. Trump’s initiative aims to prevent concert ticket purchases from resembling auctions, potentially improving entertainment access for all Americans.

"Make America fun again," Kid Rock said, endorsing the president's efforts.

Impact on the Ticketing Industry

The executive order’s impact on the ticketing industry could be substantial. Live entertainment, a $132.6 billion sector supporting about 913,000 jobs, faces a crucial juncture. The White House identifies predatory pricing as a barrier to fair access and economic equilibrium. Scalpers often use bots to acquire thousands of tickets simultaneously, then inflate prices dramatically.

These changes aim to equalize opportunities, focusing on those exploiting loopholes rather than fostering appreciation for live entertainment. Industry leader Live Nation may face a new operational landscape. Recent $LYV stock fluctuations reflect investor concerns about potential adjustments necessitated by this executive action.

Market observers anticipate changes in ticketing procedures, raising questions about whether increased federal oversight will hinder innovation or promote transparency and fairness. The goal is to dismantle a system marked by inequality. If effectively enforced, this order could usher in an era where fans gain more equitable access to performances without exorbitant costs.

How will this executive order redefine how America can “rock” responsibly? Will it lead to a more balanced ticketing system, or will there be unforeseen challenges?

Presidents As Kids!

Donald Trump – 45/47th President (2017-2020 / 2025-present)

Joe Biden – 46th President (2021-2024)

George W. Bush – 43rd President (2001–2009)

Jimmy Carter – 39th President (1977–1981)

Bill Clinton – 42nd President (1993–2001)

Gerald Ford – 38th President (1974–1977)

George H. W. Bush – 41st President (1989–1993)

John F. Kennedy – 35th President (1961–1963)

Lyndon B. Johnson – 36th President (1963–1969)

Richard Nixon – 37th President (1969–1974)

Barack Obama – 44th President (2009–2017)

Ronald Reagan – 40th President (1981–1989)

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Previous and Ongoing Efforts Against Scalping

Combating ticket scalping has prompted action across various governance and regulatory levels:

• New York State: Implemented legislation for fair ticket pricing, despite challenges in compliance and enforcement.
• Federal Trade Commission: Worked to reduce pricing opacity through measures such as the “all-in” ticketing rule.
• Department of Justice: Intervened with its lawsuit against Live Nation, which controls 70 percent of the ticketing market share.
• Senator Amy Klobuchar: Led legislative efforts, highlighting ticketing issues during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing and pushing for bipartisan reforms.

President Trump’s executive order aims to address the fragmentation of these individual strategies by reinvigorating the fight against scalping through more stringent oversight. It builds upon existing frameworks, potentially providing the coordination necessary for substantial progress.

The combination of these measures—state and federal actions, legislative hearings, and executive orders—offers a comprehensive approach to reform that challenges the status quo. Will this multifaceted strategy finally bring about meaningful change in the ticketing industry? How might it reshape the landscape of live entertainment access in America?

1. White House Fact Sheet. Executive Order on Combating Ticket Scalping and Promoting Fair Access to Live Entertainment. Washington, DC: The White House; 2025.
2. Klobuchar A. Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing on Ticketing Industry Practices. Washington, DC: United States Senate; 2023.
3. Department of Justice. Lawsuit Against Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice; 2023.
4. Federal Trade Commission. All-In Ticketing Rule. Washington, DC: Federal Trade Commission; 2023.