Trump reaches deal to end suit over ‘Hold On, I’m Coming’

President Donald Trump and his 2024 election campaign have settled a copyright infringement lawsuit brought against them by the estate of legendary R&B singer Isaac Hayes.

The case, filed in federal court in Atlanta, accused Trump of repeatedly using the song “Hold On, I’m Coming” on the campaign trail without a license.

Trump initially tried to end the suit, arguing it was meritless, but U.S. District Judge Thomas Thrash Jr. ruled in April that some of the claims could proceed. The judge acknowledged there were “quite a few” problems with the lawsuit, but said it sufficiently alleged ownership of the song and infringement by Trump.

The parties jointly filed a notice Monday stipulating to the case’s dismissal, saying they would bear their own costs.

James Walker Jr., an attorney for Isaac Hayes III and the Hayes estate, told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that they are “happy to see this matter resolved.” Walker declined to reveal the settlement terms.

Lawyers for Trump and his campaign did not immediately respond to questions about the case.

The settlement comes after mediation, court records show. In January, the parties were granted an extension on their deadline to share evidence, given the then-pending mediation.

Trump and his presidential campaign were temporarily barred from using the Hayes song without a valid license while the case was litigated.

The Hayes family alleged Trump and others used “Hold On, I’m Coming” more than 100 times at presidential campaign rallies and on various media platforms in recent years.

Other musicians, including Beyoncé, Jack White and the Foo Fighters, have also accused Trump of improperly using their work at campaign events and in associated materials.

In December, pop star Sabrina Carpenter slammed the White House for posting an “evil and disgusting” video that featured one of her songs and appeared to show U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers chasing down and handcuffing people.

“Do not ever involve me or my music to benefit your inhumane agenda,” Carpenter wrote in a public social media post in response to the video.

The Hayes lawsuit was filed in August 2024 and went through several amendments.

Initially, Trump and his campaign were sued alongside the Republican National Committee, the National Rifle Association of America and other entities that the Hayes family alleged were responsible for playing their song without permission and in connection with Trump.

The estate promptly dropped its claims against the Republican National Committee, National Rifle Association of America and American Conservative Union in September 2024.

In April 2025, the judge transferred to a federal court in Tennessee the estate’s claims against Tennessee company BTC, which was accused of hosting a bitcoin conference in Nashville where Trump played the Hayes song after a speech.

The judge also dismissed claims against Turning Point Action, an Arizona-based political organization.

Lawyers for Trump and his campaign said last year that the Hayes estate had amended its complaint twice and still couldn’t adequately show ownership of the song or that Trump did anything wrong.

“The case never was legitimate,” Ronald Coleman, one of Trump’s lawyers, told the judge during a hearing in April. “They haven’t got a case. Please dismiss it.”

Coleman also said the Hayes family had failed to allege that Trump was an officer or employee of his election campaign or had executive control over it.

Brittney Dobbins, an attorney for the family, argued that Trump played “Hold On, I’m Coming” during his announcement in 2024 that he was running for office.

“I don’t see how they can argue that Trump didn’t select the song,” she told the judge during the April hearing.