Major ally Kid Rock snaps at Trump over Live Nation surrender

MAGA-supporter Kid Rock is blasting Trump's Department of Justice for gutting an antitrust case against Ticketmaster and its parent company Live Nation — a move that exposes the hypocrisy at the heart of the administration's anti-monopoly rhetoric.

The DOJ shocked observers last week by capitulating to the live entertainment behemoth with a mere $280 million settlement to be divided among 39 states — a pittance that leaves the core monopoly intact.

New York Attorney General Letitia James didn't mince words, declaring the deal a travesty. "The settlement recently announced with the U.S. Department of Justice fails to address the monopoly at the center of this case, and would benefit Live Nation at the expense of consumers," she said. "My attorney general colleagues and I have a strong case against Live Nation, and we will continue our lawsuit to protect consumers and restore fair competition to the live entertainment industry."

Rock, a longtime Trump loyalist, expressed bewilderment that the DOJ refused to take the case to trial. "I don't understand why they would negotiate a settlement," he told New York Times columnist Noah Shachtman. "Why not just let it see its course? Let's see what 12 people decide."

Rock is currently charging up to $5,000 for front-row seats on his Freedom 250 Tour launching May 1 in Dallas, with tickets being sold exclusively through the very Ticketmaster platform he's criticizing. Premium "First Class Seats" drop $1,000 per row, with Rock's full approval.

You can read more from the Times here.