Trump Settles Lawsuit Over Unauthorized Use of Isaac Hayes Song

The estate of the renowned singer and songwriter accused Trump's campaign of using "Hold On, I'm Coming" without permission.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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President Donald Trump has settled a lawsuit with the estate of singer and songwriter Isaac Hayes, which accused the Trump campaign of using the hit song "Hold On, I'm Coming" in his 2020 and 2024 presidential campaigns without permission. The Hayes estate filed the lawsuit in 2024, alleging the unauthorized use infringed on the song's copyright. The two parties have now reached a settlement, though the details were not disclosed.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing tension between political campaigns and the music industry over the use of copyrighted songs. Many artists have objected to Trump using their music at his events over the years, raising questions about the boundaries of fair use and the need for campaigns to secure proper licensing.

The details

The Hayes estate filed the lawsuit in August 2024, alleging the Trump campaign used the song "Hold On, I'm Coming" 133 times without permission. A U.S. District Judge granted the estate 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 Hayes estate filed the lawsuit in August 2024.
  • The U.S. District Judge granted the estate a preliminary injunction in September 2024.

The players

Isaac Hayes Estate

The estate of the renowned singer and songwriter 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 permission.

Isaac Hayes III

The son of Isaac Hayes, who announced the settlement of the lawsuit on the social platform X.

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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)

What’s next

The settlement details between the Hayes estate and Trump's campaign have not been disclosed, so it remains to be seen if any further legal or financial actions will be taken.

The takeaway

This case underscores the need for political campaigns to respect intellectual property rights and secure proper licensing when using copyrighted music, even if the use is intended to be supportive. The tension between campaigns and the music industry continues to be an issue that will likely require further legal clarification.