Trump Spoke with Live Nation CEO Shortly Before Surprise Justice Department Settlement, Court Filing Reveals
Live Nation said the talks spanned about a year and included meetings with DOJ and White House officials before the surprise settlement.
- In a Monday court filing, Live Nation Entertainment Inc. disclosed that CEO Michael Rapino spoke with President Donald Trump and held numerous meetings with the White House and Department of Justice between February 2025 and June 2026.
- Prominent Trump allies Richard Grenell, Kellyanne Conway, and Mike Davis participated in negotiations, which Congressional Democrats criticized as a 'sweetheart deal' that critics argued was overly lenient.
- During a testy hearing, Judge Arun Subramanian called it 'mind boggling' that DOJ attorneys were unaware of the settlement discussions while the antitrust trial was already underway.
- More than 30 state attorneys general rejected the federal settlement, continuing litigation to secure a jury verdict finding that Live Nation acted as an illegal monopoly and overcharged fans.
- Recent disclosures raise broader questions regarding the extent of White House influence on Justice Department decision-making, while the court determines necessary remedies for the monopoly verdict.
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20 Articles
Bozeman Daily Chronicle
Court filing reveals President Trump spoke to Live Nation CEO before antitrust case was settled
Live Nation lawyers have revealed that President Donald Trump spoke personally with the chief executive of Live Nation in the weeks before the Justice Department abruptly settled its longstanding antitrust lawsuit against the entertainment giant and its Ticketmaster subsidiary. Live…
Trump spoke with Live Nation CEO shortly before surprise U.S. DOJ settlement, court filing reveals
Live Nation’s chief executive spoke with Donald Trump less than a month before the ticketing and events giant reached a surprise antitrust settlement with the U.S. DOJ that consumer advocate groups have largely panned.
Live Nation Confirms CEO Michael Rapino Met With Trump Before Antitrust Settlement
Live Nation CEO Michael Rapino had a conversation with President Donald Trump in the weeks leading up to the company settling with the Department of Justice regarding its monopoly lawsuit. In a new document filed Monday and reviewed by TheWrap, attorneys for Live Nation revealed the company had a number of communications with the DOJ and members of White House counsel from February 2025 to March 2026, ranging from “in-person meetings, videoconfe…
Trump spoke with Live Nation CEO shortly before surprise Justice Department settlement, court filing reveals
Live Nation’s chief executive spoke with President Donald Trump less than a month before the ticketing and events giant reached a surprise antitrust settlement with the Justice Department that consumer advocate groups have largely panned.
Live Nation CEO Spoke With Trump Before Reaching DOJ Settlement in Monopoly Case
In court filings this week, Live Nation confirmed Michael Rapino had spoken with Trump before the settlement but said that "no substantive terms regarding any potential settlement were discussed."
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