Donald Trump's executive order takes aim at ticket scalpers, bringing relief to Taylor Swift fans

Taylor Swift fans, often known as Swifties, may finally get some relief from outrageous ticket prices thanks to a new executive order signed by President Donald Trump. The order, aimed at tackling ticket scalping and price gouging in the live entertainment industry, directs the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Attorney General Pam Bondi to ensure fair competition in ticket sales.

Ticket scalping has long been a frustration for both artists and fans. Concert tickets are often bought in bulk by bots or third-party resellers, only to be marked up and resold at sky-high prices. Trump, speaking about the issue, revealed that it has been a long-standing concern.
"I've spoken to him over the years about it and it bothers him," Trump said as musician Kid Rock stood beside him during the executive order signing. "It bothers a lot of other artists. They go out with a $100 ticket, and it sells for $2,000 the following night."

Kid Rock, who has been vocal about wanting fair ticket prices, also emphasized the impact of ticket scalping on fans. "I want the fans to have fair ticket prices, to be able to go enjoy more shows. I'd like to take my ticket price lower, but if I set my ticket prices low, these bots immediately eat them up and they resell for hundreds of dollars more and I'm just making these bad actors rich."

Swifties are all too familiar with the frustration of ticketing issues. The 2022 rollout for Swift’s Eras Tour was a debacle, with Ticketmaster failing to handle the demand. Many fans were locked out of buying tickets altogether, leading to mass outrage. Ticketmaster eventually apologized, stating, "We want to apologize to Taylor and all of her fans - especially those who had a terrible experience trying to purchase tickets."
Swift herself called the situation "excruciating," expressing disappointment in how the sale was handled. "I've done this SPECIFICALLY to improve the quality of my fans' experience by doing it myself with my team who care as much about my fans as I do. It's really difficult for me to trust an outside entity with these relationships and loyalties, and excruciating for me to just watch mistakes happen with no recourse."

Following the chaos, some fans even filed a lawsuit against Ticketmaster and its parent company, Live Nation, accusing them of violating antitrust laws.
While the executive order signals a step in the right direction, the true impact remains to be seen. If enforced effectively, it could lead to a more transparent and fair ticket-buying process, benefiting Swifties and concertgoers everywhere. However, industry giants like Ticketmaster and Live Nation have long dominated the market, making real change a challenging battle.
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For now, Swifties can only hope that the new regulations make it easier—and more affordable—to experience their favorite artist live.