Isaac Hayes Estate Secures Emergency Court Hearing Against Trump for Unauthorized Song Use

The legal battle between the estate of Isaac Hayes and former President Donald Trump over the unauthorized use of Hayes’s iconic song, “Hold On, I’m Coming,” at Trump’s rallies has escalated to an emergency court hearing scheduled for September 3. The lawsuit, filed after repeated warnings to cease the unauthorized use of the song, accuses Trump and his campaign of copyright infringement 134 times between 2022 and 2024.

Isaac Hayes III, the singer’s son, announced the emergency hearing on social media, confirming that Trump and his team have been served with the lawsuit and notice of the hearing. The estate is demanding that Trump stop using the song, remove all related videos, issue a public disclaimer, and pay $3 million in licensing fees. Failure to meet these demands by August 16 prompted the estate to escalate the matter to court.

This legal battle is part of a broader pattern of legal challenges faced by Trump over his use of music at political events without permission. Artists like Adele, The Rolling Stones, and Rihanna have also objected to their music being used by Trump’s campaign.

James L. Walker Jr., the attorney representing Hayes’s estate, expressed disappointment in the situation, stating, “It is most unfortunate that these artists have publicly asked Team Trump and other candidates not to use their music, and yet their candidates keep using their music.” The outcome of the emergency court hearing on September 3 will determine the next steps in this ongoing legal battle.