Isaac Hayes Estate Sues Donald Trump for Using ‘Hold On, I’m Coming’ at Rallies

Donald Trump has another lawsuit on his hands, this time from the estate of Isaac Hayes.

Lawyers for Isaac Hayes Enterprises filed a notice of copyright infringement, stating that the late artist’s song “Hold On, I’m Coming” was used on “multiple occasions during various political rallies,” without authorization.

The paperwork, dated Monday, Aug. 11, identifies 134 counts copyright infringement at campaign rallies from 2022-2024.

“We demand the cessation of use, removal of all related videos, a public disclaimer, and payment of $3 million in licensing fees by August 16, 2024. Failure to comply will result in further legal action,” reads a statement posted on Hayes’ son, Isaac Hayes III.

However, given no choice, the paperwork reads, that legal action could extend to “federal litigation.”

Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, has been here before. Scores of top artists and songwriters have objected to his campaign’s use of their songs at political rallies since he first ran for president in 2015 — among them The Rolling Stones, Adele, Rihanna, Sinead O’Connor‘s estate and Aerosmith‘s Steven Tyler.

Yet as recently as July 31, in Harrisburg, Pa., Trump has been using “Hold On, I’m Comin’” to close his rallies — prompting this legal action.

“It is most unfortunate that these artists have publicly posted on their social media and asked Team Trump and other candidates not to use their music — and yet their candidates keep using their music,” James L. Walker Jr., an attorney for Hayes Enterprises, previously stated.

The Rolling Stones, Adele, Rihanna, Sinead O’Connor‘s estate and Aerosmith‘s Steven Tyler are among the artists who’ve objected to use of their songs at political rallies since Trump first ran for president in 2015. 

Hayes died Aug. 10, 2008, at the age of 65. For the “Theme from Shaft,” he was awarded the Oscar for best original song in 1972, making him just the third Black person, after Hattie McDaniel and Sidney Poitier, to win an Academy Award in any competitive field.

Hayes and David Porter wrote “Hold On, I’m Coming,” which was recorded by soul duo Sam & Dave and issued on the Stax label in 1966, peaking at No. 21 on the Billboard Hot 100.