Isaac Hayes Estate Settles With Trump Over Song Use
Estate settled over alleged 133 unauthorized uses of 1966 song 'Hold On, I'm Coming'; terms were undisclosed.
Overview
The estate of Isaac Hayes filed a joint stipulation of dismissal with prejudice in U.S. District Court in Atlanta on Monday, resolving its 2024 lawsuit against Donald Trump over 'Hold On, I'm Coming'.
The estate had sued in August 2024 alleging the Trump campaign used the 1966 Sam & Dave hit at least 133 times without permission.
Isaac Hayes III said on X that the family and estate 'are satisfied with the outcome,' and co-writer David Porter said he did not authorize the song's use.
The estate had sought $3 million in damages and accused the campaign of recording and distributing videos containing the song in 2020 and 2024.
U.S. District Judge Thomas Thrash granted a preliminary injunction in September 2024, lawyers for Trump said the campaign had already stopped using the song before that ruling, and the settlement terms were undisclosed.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources present this story neutrally: they report the settlement and note undisclosed terms, include direct quotes from the Hayes estate about protecting intellectual property, relay the Trump campaign’s BMI-license claim and the judge’s prior rulings, and avoid loaded language—favoring balanced source content over editorializing.
FAQ
The song was 'Hold On, I'm Coming,' a 1966 hit by Sam & Dave, co-written by Isaac Hayes and David Porter.
The estate alleged at least 133 unauthorized uses of the song during Trump's 2020 and 2024 campaigns.
The estate sought $3 million in damages for copyright infringement from the song's use in campaign videos and rallies.
The estate and Trump campaign reached a settlement, with terms undisclosed; the family expressed satisfaction with the outcome.
Trump's lawyers stated the campaign had stopped using the song before a preliminary injunction and had no interest in continuing if it annoyed the family.
