Isaac Hayes’ Family Sues Trump for Using ‘Hold On, I’m Coming’

The family of late R&B legend Isaac Hayes announced on Sunday night they are suing presidential candidate Donald Trump for his unauthorized use of “Hold On, I’m Coming” at campaign events.

In documents posted on Hayes’ social media accounts, his family demanded Trump cease playing the song and pay $3 million for its unauthorized use from 2022 to 2024, citing 134 instances of copyright infringement. Hayes wrote “Hold On, I’m Coming” for R&B act Sam & Dave, and therefore, his estate owns the rights.

The letter from Hayes’ family also requested the removal of all videos featuring Trump using the song and asked for an official statement from Trump’s campaign acknowledging that the Hayes estate has not “authorized, endorsed, or permitted” use of the song.

Hayes’ family emphasized that if these demands are not met, they will “take all legal action required to enforce the infringed upon intellectual property rights, including but not limited to sending third-party takedown requests and/or federal litigation.”

Hayes’ son, Isaac Hayes III, also posted a statement on his social media denouncing Trump’s use of the song. “Donald Trump epitomizes a lack of integrity and class, not only through his continuous use of my father’s music without permission but also through his history of sexual abuse against women and his racist rhetoric,” Hayes III wrote. “This behavior will no longer be tolerated, and we will take swift action to put an end to it.”

Representatives for Trump’s campaign did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Trump has a long history of musical artists demanding that their songs not be used in association with his campaign. Just two days ago, Celine Dion took to social media to disavow the use of “My Heart Will Go On” at a rally.

“In no way is this use authorized and Celine Dion does not endorse this or any similar use,” Dion wrote. “And really, that song?”