New court documents released Monday show that President Trump spoke directly with Live Nation CEO Michael Rapino in February 2025, weeks before the ticketing giant reached a settlement with the Department of Justice (DOJ) over antitrust allegations.
The filing, submitted by Live Nation, confirms that Rapino “discussed a variety of topics related to Live Nation’s business” with the president. According to the company, the status of the DOJ lawsuit “came up but no substantive terms regarding any potential settlement were discussed.”
The conversation took place as Live Nation was pushing to open settlement talks with the Trump administration. The company and its advisers met with DOJ officials and White House staff, including the office of the White House counsel, according to the filing.
Among the key figures involved in those discussions were former Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway and Richard Grenell, the former Kennedy Center president and Trump’s special missions envoy. Grenell joined Live Nation’s board of directors in May 2025, after the settlement was reached.
The DOJ, under the Biden administration, sued Live Nation and its subsidiary Ticketmaster in 2024, alleging they illegally monopolized the live entertainment industry. The case went to trial in early March 2025, but just one week in, Live Nation struck a settlement with the federal government.
The settlement required Live Nation to end exclusive booking agreements with 13 amphitheaters, open venues to all promoters, allow competitors to distribute half of the tickets, and cap ticketing service fees at 15 percent. However, more than 30 states that had joined the federal case opted out of the deal and continued the trial. In April, a jury found that Live Nation and Ticketmaster had indeed maintained an illegal monopoly.
Live Nation has vowed to challenge the verdict. “The jury’s verdict is not the last word on this matter. Pending motions will determine whether the liability and damages rulings stand,” the company said in a statement, adding that it expects the final outcome to align with the DOJ settlement.
The revelation of Trump’s direct communication with Rapino has drawn fresh scrutiny from lawmakers and consumer advocates, particularly as the White House has been embroiled in other political battles, including Rep. Jamie Raskin’s push to investigate Trump’s $1.8 billion ‘anti-weaponization’ fund. Critics argue the timing raises questions about whether political influence played a role in the settlement terms.
The case also highlights broader tensions within the GOP, as the Massie-Greene alliance signals growing conservative discontent with Trump’s grip on the party. Meanwhile, Trump’s approval ratings have taken a hit, with his approval sinking to 20 points underwater as Democratic Socialists surge in primaries.
Monday’s filing is the latest twist in a saga that has pitted the Trump administration against state attorneys general and consumer groups, who argue the settlement was too lenient on a company that controls roughly 80% of the primary ticketing market.
