The family of the late singer-songwriter Isaac Hayes is threatening to sue Trump and his campaign over the unauthorized use of the song "Hold On I'm Coming" at rallies and in campaign videos. In a post on X, Hayes' son, Isaac Hayes III, said Trump and his campaign had infringed upon the family and Isaac Hayes Enterprises' copyright of the song 134 times from 2022 to 2024. Unless the family is paid $3 million in licensing fees by Aug.
16, they say they will take further legal action against the former president. Hayes, who died in 2008, co-wrote Sam & Dave's song "Hold On I'm Coming" with David Porter in 1966. But Trump has recently adopted the hit into his campaign trail playlist, with his Friday stop in Montana being the latest instance of its use, according to Hayes III.
RELATED STORY | Trump rallies in Montana, hoping to swing a precarious down-ballot race The day after the Montana rally, and on the anniversary of Hayes' death, Hayes III had said in another post on X that the family had repeatedly asked Trump to stop using the song and would now "deal with this very swiftly." He also called Trump a representation of "the worst in integrity and class with his disrespect and sexual abuse of women and racist rhetoric." The next day, Hayes III posted a copy of the notice of copyright infringement sent to Trump and his campaign, stating the former president has continued using the song during rallies "despite being asked repeatedly not to engage in such illegal use by our clien.