Reports say Ari Emanuel, the CEO of TKO Group Holdings and a former Live Nation board member, asked President Donald Trump to intervene in the antitrust case against Live Nation and Ticketmaster.
What was reported
According to multiple reports, Emanuel called President Trump during an antitrust lawsuit brought by the U.S. Department of Justice. After that call, the government reportedly paused its pursuit of the case. The account says the settlement followed a meeting at the White House and was announced publicly several days later.
The antitrust case and timeline
The antitrust lawsuit began in May 2024. It accused Live Nation and Ticketmaster of holding a monopoly over the live events and ticketing business. The case drew public attention after the 2022 ticketing problems for a major pop star’s tour.
The trial opened on March 2 in federal court in Manhattan. Reports say the Justice Department reached a settlement about a week after the trial began. The settlement surprised some prosecutors and several state attorneys general, according to the same reports.
Settlement terms and ongoing fights
The company agreed to pay $280 million as part of the settlement. The deal also included terms meant to allow venues to make deals so a portion of tickets could be sold by companies other than Ticketmaster. Those changes aim to reduce the company’s exclusive control over ticket sales.
Even after the federal settlement, about two dozen states said they would keep pressing their own cases in court. The trial continued in New York after the Department of Justice withdrew from parts of the proceedings, with court activity resuming on March 16.
How the story came to light
The reports were called out in industry newsletters and news outlets that cover entertainment and live events. They say that after the trial began, President Trump made calls asking why the government had not yet settled. The settlement was reportedly finalized after a White House meeting, then announced to the public several days later.
These accounts focus on the role of Emanuel’s phone call and the timing of the White House meeting. The details remain part of ongoing legal and political scrutiny, with states and other parties continuing their cases in court.
