Trump signs executive order targeting ticket scalping, reselling
President Trump signed an executive order on Monday aimed to crack down on ticket scalping and resale practices, alongside rock star Kid Rock.
The order will direct the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice to enforce laws, in collaboration with state attorneys general, to prevent entertainers and fans from being overcharged and price gouged by reselling practices.
Kid Rock, wearing a red, white and blue outfit, spoke to reporters in the Oval Office to talk about the importance of the order. The rock star has been a supporter of the president, and he performed at the Republican National Convention in July.
“Anyone who’s bought a concert ticket in the last decade, maybe 20 years, no matter what your politics are, knows it’s a conundrum,” Kid Rock told reporters, adding that “bots” come in and buy tickets and mark them up.
He called the order a first step and said he would support legislation that would put a cap on the resale of tickets.
“It bothers him, it bothers a lot of other artists too,” Trump said of Kid Rock.
The president continued to speak to reporters in the Oval Office after introducing the order while Kid Rock stood beside him and listened along.
Former President Biden also made an effort to crack down on ticket sales, focusing on so-called junk fees from sellers like Live Nation. Additionally, last year, the Biden administration, 29 states and the District of Columbia filed a lawsuit against Live Nation and its subsidiary Ticketmaster, arguing they monopolized the live entertainment industry.
Live Nation said in a statement that it supports Trump's order on Monday, also pushing for further enforcement.
Updated at 7:38 p.m. EDT