Trump Signs Executive Order Targeting Ticket Scalping

President Trump signed an executive order on Monday that aims to stem ticket scalping and price gouging in the secondary market for live events.

The Details: Trump’s order directs the Federal Trade Commission and Department of Justice to enforce competition laws, tax codes, transparent pricing, and President Obama’s Better Online Ticket Sales (BOTS) Act, which makes resale of tickets purchased using bots punishable by fine. The president was flanked by American artist Kid Rock while he signed the order.

For Context: In November 2022, onsales of Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour drew the ire of fans and reactions from politicians. In April 2023, the Senate made a bipartisan push to enhance ticket market fairness when Senators Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA) introduced a bill that eventually was passed in May 2024. Kid Rock has been a longtime vocal supporter of President Trump and an advocate for making concerts more affordable. In 2013, an opinion in The Atlantic (Left bias) hailed him as a “progressive hero” for capping ticket prices at $20 for a nationwide amphitheater tour.

Key Quotes: A White House official said concert ticketing “has become blighted by unscrupulous middle-men who impose egregious fees on fans with no benefit to artists” and that “fans have paid as much as 70 times the face value of a ticket price to obtain a ticket.” Kid Rock said, “Ultimately, I think this is a great first step. I would love, down the road, if there would be some legislation, and we could actually put a cap on the resale of tickets.” He added that he wants to offer “a fair ticket price” to “the working class” but doesn’t have “control” over that right now.

How The Media Covered It: The Guardian (Left) noted controversies surrounding Swift’s Eras Tour and that it prompted legal action against Ticketmaster from the Biden administration. Many outlets from the left and center prominently noted Kid Rock’s gaudy America-themed outfit, while outlets from the right mostly didn’t mention his attire.

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