Donald Trump’s latest proactive measures could spell early Christmas for concertgoers, but for ticket resellers, not so much! POTUS is reportedly signing an executive order to keep covetous middlemen ravaging the entertainment industry in check. The president highlighted that live entertainment is a significant industry worth $132.6 billion. Trump also recognizes that the industry supports nearly one million jobs, making it important to protect it.
The president pointed out that the ticketing segment of this industry has become plagued by excessive fees and dishonest intermediaries. He reportedly signed an executive order on March 31, 2025, to stop price-gouging by middlemen in the entertainment industry. Trump’s latest EO addresses issues with buying tickets for popular concerts and sporting events.
Per TMZ, Trump’s EO instructs the Federal Trade Commission and U.S. Attorney General to enforce competition laws. The BOTS Act will also help prevent scalpers from using bots to buy and resell tickets at inflated prices. Trump is involving the Treasury and Justice Departments to ensure ticket scalpers follow the law.
Ticket Resellers Have Been Getting a Earful Online
Trump’s decision might just be a round peg in a round hole for online users. As noted by posts on X, social media users have repeatedly condemned the pricey nature of tickets. This user wrote, “I wish nothing but the worst for resellers/scalpers.” Many users on social media also expressed frustration with ticket resellers for Chris Brown’s concert. One user shared difficulty accessing the presale and noted being 11,000th with numerous resellers in line. An X subscriber criticized resellers for struggling to sell tickets, disrupting event enjoyment.
Another commenter was happy at the sight of racks filled with unsold tickets with retailers. This comment joined one more commenters’ who concluded they were “sick of online resellers.” Overall, there is a strong sentiment against the negative impact of resellers on the ticket-buying experience. Some fans are reportedly paying up to 70 times the face value for tickets, profiting scalpers and brokers. Scalpers have also hiked prices for artists like Coldplay, Pink, Bruce Springsteen, The Rolling Stones, Bad Bunny, and Madonna.
Donald Trump’s Executive Order Targeting Segregation
In February, We reported that a memo from the U.S. General Services Administration was made public. The memo sparked controversy by lifting the longstanding 1965 ban on segregation in federal contracting. The ban initially prohibited contractors from operating segregated facilities like waiting rooms and dining areas. However, the recent order issued by Trump reversed this prohibition. This means it allowed for discriminatory practices to resurface in government contractors’ hiring and employment practices.
The memo stated that civil agencies should stop including the “Prohibition of Segregated Facilities” clause in new contracts. Supporters of the president defended the policy, claiming it protected the interests of Americans, particularly white individuals and men. Critics, however, were quick to challenge this justification. Prominent civil rights attorney Ben Crump took to Instagram to condemn the segregation order. He noted that although segregation is still illegal, the policy change signals a message about civil rights under Trump.
Will Donald Trump’s new executive order against resellers prove effective?
