Trump Signs Executive Order Targeting Ticket Scalpers And Resellers

President Donald Trump signed a new executive order on March 31 targeting ticket scalpers, online resellers, and predatory bots that have hijacked the live entertainment industry for years. The order, aimed at restoring fairness and transparency to ticket sales, directs the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice to begin an aggressive enforcement campaign against price gouging and bot-driven scalping schemes.

“We’re putting fans first,” Trump said during the signing ceremony. “It’s time to stop greedy scalpers and give everyday Americans a fair shot at seeing the shows and games they love.”

Key Points of the Executive Order:

• Cracks down on resellers using bots to scoop up large ticket quantities for resale at inflated prices

• Directs federal agencies to work with state attorneys general to enforce existing laws and investigate deceptive resale practices

• Enhances enforcement of the Better Online Ticket Sales (BOTS) Act

• Mandates full price transparency on ticketing platforms, including all fees and resale markups

• Seeks to end unfair, deceptive, and anti-competitive behavior in the ticket marketplace

Kid Rock Joins Trump at the Signing

Musician Kid Rock, a longtime Trump supporter, stood alongside the president and praised the executive order as a “great first step” in restoring sanity to ticket sales. He slammed the practice of bots buying up tickets in seconds and then reselling them at five to ten times their original price.

“The real fans are getting screwed,” Kid Rock said. “This is about fairness. This is about stopping the people who are making money off the backs of hard-working fans and artists.”

Industry Support

Major industry players, including Live Nation, voiced support for Trump’s action. In a statement, they applauded the administration for taking on the root of the problem: scalpers and bots.

“Scalpers and bots prevent fans from getting tickets at the prices artists set,” the company said. “We support stronger enforcement and price transparency.”

They also endorsed reforms like capping resale prices and limiting bot access to ticket platforms.

Putting the Fans—and Artists—First

The executive order is part of a broader push from the Trump administration to tackle corporate abuses and restore fairness in markets that directly affect American consumers. By targeting the ticket resale racket, Trump is taking aim at a problem that has frustrated millions of fans across the country for years.

Supporters say this move marks the beginning of a fan-first ticketing era, one where performers and their audiences—not greedy middlemen—determine the value of the experience.

“We want to make concerts and games affordable again,” Trump said. “No more bots. No more scams. Just fair prices and great shows.”