By Nick Robertson - 08/11/24

The family of late soul singer Isaac Hayes filed a suit against former President Trump’s campaign on Sunday, alleging copyright infringement over the use of his music at Trump’s rallies.

The suit demands $3 million in damages for 134 uses of the song “Hold On, I’m Comin’” at rallies from 2022 through this year. The song was used most recently at Trump’s rally in Montana on Friday, according to the suit.

Hayes was a songwriter for the hit song performed by Sam & Dave in 1966, and his estate owns its rights.

“It has come to our attention that you or the campaign have authorized the illegal public performance of the Song on multiple occasions during various rallies for your political campaign without authorization from the copyright holder, despite being asked repeatedly not to engage in such illegal use by our client,” the suit reads.

The suit also demands the campaign remove any video that includes the song in the background, and issue an acknowledgement and apology over use of the song.

It comes just days after Celine Dion denounced the use of her “My Heart Will Go On” video at Trump’s same Montana rally.

“In no way is this use authorized and Celine Dion does not endorse this or any similar use … and really, THAT song?” she said.

The Hill has reached out to the Trump campaign for comment.