President Trump is taking another swing at ticket scalpers, signing an executive order Monday to crack down on resale practices. Flanked by rock star Kid Rock, Trump promised to bring price transparency and tougher enforcement to ticket sales.
Ticketmaster, the industry giant under Live Nation, has faced bipartisan heat for its grip on ticketing. The Biden administration sued the company last year, accusing it of monopolizing the live event industry. Lawmakers also hammered Ticketmaster after a bot-driven disaster during ticket sales for Taylor Swift’s 2023 Eras tour. Despite public outrage, major changes have yet to materialize.
What is the Ticket Price Gouging Executive Order?
The order directs the Federal Trade Commission to ensure consumers see all fees upfront and tasks the Attorney General with enforcing existing laws against ticket scalping. It also pledges to double down on the Better Online Ticket Sales (BOTS) Act, a 2016 law meant to stop scalpers from using bots to hoard tickets.
What does this mean for ticket prices?
Critics say the executive order is more show than substance. Music industry analyst Bob Lefsetz dismissed Trump’s executive order as “grandstanding,” noting that it doesn’t set price caps or introduce new regulations. He also pointed out that the BOTS Act has been ineffective due to a lack of enforcement funding. Given the current push for government spending cuts, that funding seems unlikely.
In reality, Trump’s order reiterates existing laws rather than introduces new ones. While it signals intent to crack down on scalpers, its impact remains unclear. Without concrete action—like breaking up monopolies or enforcing price caps—fans may still find themselves paying exorbitant prices for the hottest tickets in town.