Isaac Hayes estate sues Trump campaign over use of song ‘Hold On, I’m Coming’

The family of the late singer-songwriter Isaac Hayes sued Donald Trump and his campaign on Friday, seeking what could be millions of dollars in fees for the alleged unauthorized use of the song “Hold On, I’m Coming” in the former president’s rallies and campaign videos.

The suit, filed in Georgia federal court, also names the Republican National Committee and conservative activist group Turning Point USA.

Lawyers for the Hayes family argue Trump owes the estate $150,000 for each alleged unauthorized use of the song, which the Trump campaign has allegedly used over 100 times.

In addition to the licensing fees, it seeks a disclaimer that the estate has not «authorized, endorsed, or permitted use of the Isaac Hayes Enterprises’ property at any point, now or in perpetuity throughout the universe.»

The Independent has contacted the Trump campaign, RNC, and Turning Point USA for comment.

Hayes died on August 10, 2008. He co-wrote the song in question with David Porter, and it was first performed in 1966 by the duo Sam & Dave.

The Hayes estate argues that it regained the copyright to “Hold On, I’m Coming” in 2022, and that the Trump campaign has continued to use the song without permission.

The family sent Trump and his campaign a notice of copyright infringement on August 11, according to a post on X by Hayes’s son, Isaac Hayes III, and sought $3m in licensing fees.

“It has come to our attention that you or the campaign have authorized the illegal public performance of the Song on multiple occasions during various rallies for your political campaign without authorization from the copyright holder, despite being asked repeatedly not to engage in such illegal use by our client,” a letter from Hayes’s lawyer James Walker