Trump Signs Executive Order Aimed at “Exploitative Ticket Scalping”

Donald Trump signed an executive order on Monday aimed at reforming the concert ticket industry and protecting fans from what he called “exploitative ticket scalping.”

Among other provisions, the order directs state consumer protection authorities to enforce the Better Online Ticket Sales (BOTS) Act, a 2016 federal law designed to prevent scalpers from using bots to buy tickets in bulk. It also calls for greater price transparency throughout the ticket-buying process — including on the secondary market — and authorizes enforcement action against “unfair, deceptive, and anti-competitive conduct” in the ticket resale market.

Additionally, the order instructs US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Attorney General Pam Bondi to ensure ticket resellers are fully compliant with IRS regulations and other applicable laws, and tasks the Federal Trade Commission with working alongside the DOJ to enforce antitrust laws within the concert industry.

Trump signed the executive order at an Oval Office ceremony attended by Kid Rock, who gave brief remarks championing the action. “Anyone who has bought a concert ticket in the last 20 years, no matter what your politics are, knows it’s a conundrum. You buy a ticket for $100, by the time you check out it’s $170, you don’t know what you’re charged for. But, more importantly, these bots come in and get all the good tickets to your favorite shows, and they’re relisted immediately for a 4-500% markup. The artists don’t see any of that money,” Kid Rock said. “Ultimately, I think this is a great first step. I’d love down the road if there would be some legislation that we can actually put a cap on the resale of tickets. I’m a Capitalist and for deregulation, but they’ve tried this in some places in Europe and it seems to be the only thing that lets us as artists get the hands in artists at the price we set.”

Under the order, the Treasury Department, Department of Justice, and Federal Trade Commission must issue a report within 180 days summarizing the steps taken to curb unfair practices in the live entertainment industry, along with any recommendations for new regulations or legislation to better protect consumers.

Kid Rock joins Pres. Trump as the president signs an executive order aimed at curbing ticket reselling and price gouging.

“Anyone who’s bought a concert ticket in the last decade … no matter what your politics are, knows it’s a conundrum."https://t.co/JJjHtQvPjM pic.twitter.com/LouRuH0kMU

— ABC News (@ABC) March 31, 2025