Trump Settles Lawsuit with Isaac Hayes Estate 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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President Donald Trump has settled a lawsuit with the estate of singer and songwriter Isaac Hayes over the Trump campaign's unauthorized use of the song "Hold On, I'm Coming" in his 2020 and 2024 presidential campaigns. The Hayes estate filed the lawsuit in 2024, alleging the song was used 133 times without permission. The parties have now reached a settlement, the details of which were not disclosed.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing tensions between political campaigns and musicians/artists over the unauthorized use of copyrighted songs. Many artists have objected to Trump using their music at events, and this settlement represents another example of a campaign being held accountable for such actions.

The details

The Hayes estate filed the lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, alleging the Trump campaign had infringed the copyright on "Hold On, I'm Coming," a 1966 hit co-written by Isaac Hayes. In September 2024, a judge granted the estate a preliminary injunction, 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 lawsuit was filed in August 2024.
  • The preliminary injunction was granted in September 2024.

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 permission.

Isaac Hayes III

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

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 personal legal counsel for Donald Trump, who said the campaign had already agreed not to use the song going forward.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

The takeaway

This settlement represents another example of a political campaign being held accountable for the unauthorized use of copyrighted music, highlighting the ongoing tensions between campaigns and artists over such issues.