Isaac Hayes Estate Settles Lawsuit Against Trump Over Unauthorized Song Use

The estate accused the Trump campaign of using the hit song 'Hold On, I'm Coming' without permission.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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The estate of renowned singer and songwriter Isaac Hayes has settled a lawsuit against former President Donald Trump that accused his campaign of using the hit song 'Hold On, I'm Coming' without permission during the 2020 and 2024 presidential elections. The lawsuit alleged the Trump campaign used the song 133 times, infringing on the copyright. The parties have now reached a settlement, though the details were not disclosed.

Why it matters

This case is part of a broader trend of artists and estates taking legal action against politicians, particularly Trump, for using their music without authorization at campaign events and rallies. It highlights the ongoing tension between political free speech and intellectual property rights.

The details

The Hayes estate filed the lawsuit in August 2024, alleging the Trump campaign had used the 1966 hit song 'Hold On, I'm Coming' without permission. A judge granted a preliminary injunction in September 2024, ordering the Trump campaign to stop using the song. Lawyers for Trump said the campaign had already stopped using the song before the ruling. The settlement announced this week resolves the lawsuit, though the specific terms were not disclosed.

  • The lawsuit was filed in August 2024.
  • A preliminary injunction was granted in September 2024, ordering the Trump campaign to stop using the song.
  • The settlement was announced on February 24, 2026.

The players

Isaac Hayes Estate

The estate of renowned singer and songwriter Isaac Hayes, who co-wrote the hit song 'Hold On, I'm Coming.'

Donald Trump

The former president of the United States, whose 2020 and 2024 presidential campaigns were accused of using the Hayes song without authorization.

Isaac Hayes III

The son of Isaac Hayes, who announced the settlement on behalf of the family and estate.

Sam Moore

One half of the soul duo Sam and Dave, who performed 'America the Beautiful' at a pre-inauguration concert for Trump and opposed the action sought by the Hayes estate.

Ronald Coleman

The lawyer representing Trump and his campaign, who said the campaign had already agreed not to use the song going forward.

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What they’re saying

“We are satisfied with the outcome.”

— Isaac Hayes III, Son of Isaac Hayes (X)

“The campaign has no interest in annoying or hurting anyone, and if the Hayes family feels that it hurts or annoys them, that's fine, we're not going to force the issue.”

— Ronald Coleman, Lawyer for Trump campaign (Court filing)

The takeaway

This settlement is the latest in a series of legal battles between musicians and politicians over the unauthorized use of copyrighted songs, highlighting the ongoing tension between free speech and intellectual property rights in the political arena.