Live Nation CEO Spoke With Trump Before Surprise Antitrust Trial Settlement

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Jun 24, 2026 10:40am PT

Live Nation Discloses That CEO Spoke With Trump Before Surprise Antitrust Trial Settlement

By Steven J. Horowitz

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Steven J. Horowitz

Senior Music Writer

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Live Nation has confirmed that the company had several meetings with the Department of Justice and the Office of the White House Counsel before a surprise antitrust trial settlement, while its president and CEO, Michael Rapino, held a conversation with President Donald Trump.

In a notice filed on Monday and reviewed by Variety , attorneys for Live Nation disclosed that the company had “in-person meetings, videoconferences, telephone calls, and written communications” with the DOJ as well as members of the Office of the White House Counsel between February 2025 and June 2026. The filing states that the communications were related to the negotiation of a potential settlement between the United States and Live Nation.

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_Originally reported by [Variety Music](https://variety.com/2026/music/news/live-nation-ceo-spoke-with-trump-before-trial-settlement-1236789546/)._