Trump ordered by judge to stop playing Isaac Hayes ‘Hold on, I’m Coming’

Donald Trump has been ordered by a judge to stop playing the song “Hold On, I’m Coming” at campaign rallies, after the family of singer-songwriter Isaac Hayes claimed its use had not been authorized.

The ruling was made by Judge Thomas Thrash Jr in federal court in Atlanta, Georgia, on Tuesday. “I do order Trump and his campaign to not use the song without proper license,” he said, in an order obtained by CNN.

However, Thrash denied a motion by the Hayes estate to force the Trump campaign to take down any previously recorded uses of the song. The lawsuit alleged that the song was used without permission at rallies and in campaign videos multiple times previously.

Ronald Coleman, an attorney for Trump, told members of the media after the hearing that the campaign had “no interest in annoying or hurting anyone.” “If the Hayes family feels it hurts or annoys them, that’s fine, we’re not going to force the issue,” he said, per CNN.

Hayes’s son, Isaac Hayes III, said that the estate was “very grateful and happy” for the decision. “I want this to serve as an opportunity for other artists to come forward that don’t want their music used by Donald Trump or other political entities,” he told reporters.

On Monday, Hayes III also shared a letter dated June 5, 2024, reportedly from BMI, an organization that collects license fees from businesses for the use of music.

“Donald Trump for President has been claiming they had a valid BMI license to play ‘Hold On, I’m Coming” for weeks. FALSE,” his post read. “Donald Trump for President has not had valid license for nearly 100 days, and @realDonaldTrump has NEVER had a license. Not to mention the numerous uses before Nov. 30th, 2022.”

The Hayes estate brought the lawsuit against the former