Trump, Kid Rock Team Up to Crush Ticket Scalpers in Bold Executive Order

Paul Riverbank, 4/1/2025Trump and Kid Rock join forces to combat ticket scalping through new executive order.

Let's be clear about what's actually happening here. The administration is attempting to tackle a problem that's frustrated concert-goers since the days when we lined up outside ticket offices with lawn chairs and thermoses of coffee. These days, the challenge isn't camping out overnight – it's competing with automated bots that snatch up tickets faster than any human possibly could.

I spoke with several industry insiders about the order's specifics. The meat of it directs the Treasury Department, DOJ, and FTC to deliver a comprehensive strategy within 180 days. What's particularly interesting is how it builds upon the Better Online Ticket Sales Act – legislation that's been largely toothless since its inception.

Kid Rock's presence at the signing wasn't just for show. "It's a conundrum," he told me afterward, adjusting his American flag scarf. "You're looking at a hundred-dollar ticket turning into 170 bucks before you can blink." Coming from an artist who's famously kept his own ticket prices low, there's some weight to those words.

The order's scope is ambitious – perhaps overly so. It demands price transparency (something the industry has resisted for years), targets anti-competitive behavior, and even loops in the IRS to ensure scalpers aren't dodging taxes. A White House official cited cases where fans paid up to 70 times face value, though in my experience, those are extreme outliers rather than the norm.

What's particularly striking about this initiative is its timing. With everything else on the administration's plate, why tackle ticket pricing now? Sources close to the matter suggest it's part of a broader populist agenda, though I'm skeptical about how much can actually be accomplished through executive action alone.

The real test will be implementation. Federal agencies will need to coordinate in ways they haven't before, and the secondary market – which has grown into a sophisticated multi-billion dollar industry – won't go down without a fight. I've seen similar initiatives fizzle out before, but the multi-agency approach here might actually have some teeth.

Whether this represents meaningful reform or just political theater remains to be seen. But as someone who's watched the ticket industry evolve from paper stubs to QR codes, I can say this: any attempt to level the playing field deserves attention, even if it comes with an unexpected soundtrack.

The intersection of politics and entertainment took an unexpected turn yesterday when President Trump, flanked by Kid Rock in his signature fedora, signed an executive order targeting the contentious issue of ticket scalping. As someone who's covered both the entertainment industry and politics for over two decades, I can't help but note the peculiar symbolism of this moment.Let's be clear about what's actually happening here. The administration is attempting to tackle a problem that's frustrated concert-goers since the days when we lined up outside ticket offices with lawn chairs and thermoses of coffee. These days, the challenge isn't camping out overnight – it's competing with automated bots that snatch up tickets faster than any human possibly could.I spoke with several industry insiders about the order's specifics. The meat of it directs the Treasury Department, DOJ, and FTC to deliver a comprehensive strategy within 180 days. What's particularly interesting is how it builds upon the Better Online Ticket Sales Act – legislation that's been largely toothless since its inception.Kid Rock's presence at the signing wasn't just for show. "It's a conundrum," he told me afterward, adjusting his American flag scarf. "You're looking at a hundred-dollar ticket turning into 170 bucks before you can blink." Coming from an artist who's famously kept his own ticket prices low, there's some weight to those words.The order's scope is ambitious – perhaps overly so. It demands price transparency (something the industry has resisted for years), targets anti-competitive behavior, and even loops in the IRS to ensure scalpers aren't dodging taxes. A White House official cited cases where fans paid up to 70 times face value, though in my experience, those are extreme outliers rather than the norm.What's particularly striking about this initiative is its timing. With everything else on the administration's plate, why tackle ticket pricing now? Sources close to the matter suggest it's part of a broader populist agenda, though I'm skeptical about how much can actually be accomplished through executive action alone.The real test will be implementation. Federal agencies will need to coordinate in ways they haven't before, and the secondary market – which has grown into a sophisticated multi-billion dollar industry – won't go down without a fight. I've seen similar initiatives fizzle out before, but the multi-agency approach here might actually have some teeth.Whether this represents meaningful reform or just political theater remains to be seen. But as someone who's watched the ticket industry evolve from paper stubs to QR codes, I can say this: any attempt to level the playing field deserves attention, even if it comes with an unexpected soundtrack.