Trump spoke with Live Nation CEO before Justice Department settlement

A June 24 court filing showed Donald Trump spoke with Live Nation chief executive Michael Rapino in February 2026, weeks before the Justice Department settled its antitrust case against Live Nation Entertainment and Ticketmaster LLC on March 9. Live Nation’s filing covered the lawsuit but did not touch the substance of any possible settlement, while White House lawyers were involved in meetings, video calls, phone calls and written communications with the company and the Justice Department in February and March.

The case began in May 2024, when the Justice Department and a coalition of 40 states sued Live Nation and Ticketmaster over control of concert promotion, venue ownership and primary ticketing. Trial opened in the Southern District of New York on March 2, 2026, and the federal settlement landed seven days later, with 33 states and the District of Columbia refusing to join and continuing the fight. The Justice Department’s case page includes later settlement-related filings dated June 12.

The filing did not show that Trump directed the settlement or that Rapino discussed its terms with him. It did, however, show a direct presidential conversation with the leader of a company facing a major federal antitrust case, alongside White House counsel involvement in the broader communications that surrounded the deal.

On April 15, 2026, a jury found Live Nation and Ticketmaster liable on federal and state antitrust claims, concluding that Ticketmaster unlawfully maintained monopoly power in primary ticketing services at major concert venues and that Live Nation held a monopoly in the large amphitheaters market while unlawfully tying amphitheater access to its promotion services. Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown said the verdict showed Live Nation and Ticketmaster had “unlawfully eliminated competition.” Brown’s office and the coalition of state attorneys general said they would keep seeking remedies and financial penalties at a separate bench trial that has not yet been scheduled.