Vini Lopez, the original drummer for the iconic E Street Band, has publicly voiced his perspective on the importance of showing respect for the office of the President, even amidst strong political critiques from his former bandmate, Bruce Springsteen. From his current residence in Largo, Florida, Lopez, 77, offered a nuanced view on the ongoing public discourse surrounding President Donald Trump's administration and the role of musicians in political commentary.
"You gotta have respect for the president." — Vini Lopez, Original E Street Band Drummer
Bruce Springsteen's current "Land of Hope and Dreams" tour has become a prominent platform for his political views, with the musician frequently using his concerts to express strong criticisms of the White House. Springsteen has publicly labeled President Donald Trump's administration "corrupt, incompetent, racist, reckless and treasonous," and has referred to the commander-in-chief as "our wannabe king." These statements reflect a consistent stance from Springsteen, who has not shied away from using his platform for political messaging, targeting what he calls President Trump’s "rogue government" at various tour stops.
Lopez, who laid down the beats on Springsteen's 1973 debut album, "Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J.," articulated a different philosophy regarding public respect for the nation's highest office. "You gotta have respect for the president," Lopez told The Post, a statement he later reinforced. He elaborated, "Trump is the president of the United States — everyone should have respect for him." Lopez described how he would approach an in-person encounter with President Trump, stating, "He is the president of the United States. And if I was standing there talking to him, I would have mucho respect for the man," though he added with a chuckle that he "wouldn’t talk to him about anything that’s going on" politically.
This philosophy extends to Lopez's own musical endeavors with his current band, The Wonderful Winos. Unlike Springsteen, Lopez keeps his stage strictly focused on music, deliberately avoiding political discourse. "My band, whatever we think, we don’t go there in our music," he explained, distinguishing his approach from that of his former bandmate.
Lopez's history with President Trump predates the current political climate, stemming from his years as a caddy. A chance meeting at President Trump's Bedminster, New Jersey, club left a positive impression on Lopez. He recalled shaking President Trump's hand, noting the interaction was warm and that President Trump "was very nice to me. He was very inquisitive and introduced me to Melania." Lopez also recounted a memorable request from President Trump as he was leaving that day: "Tell Bruce I’m his biggest fan."
The goodwill between President Trump and Springsteen has since publicly deteriorated. President Trump has called for a boycott of Springsteen's music and has publicly referred to the rock icon as a "dried-up prune." President Trump also posted a social media comment questioning "Bruce Springsteen prior to plastic surgery???". These exchanges highlight the deep political chasm that has opened between the two prominent figures.
Despite his own Republican voting record, which he describes as voting "up and down the ballot, from City Council to Congress," Lopez is careful to distance himself from what he calls the "sharper edges of political identity." He clarified that while he advocates for respect for the office, he is not against Springsteen's right to express his views. "I am not against what Bruce is saying now," Lopez affirmed, highlighting a distinction between defending free speech and disagreeing with the tone or method of political engagement.
Lopez expressed a broader concern about the increasing political division in the country. "It’s so divided, the political part. It’s a tough one on me," he observed, noting that his perspective has mellowed with age. "Maybe when I was 20, I was a little more extreme, but I’m 77 now, so the extremities are gone." He holds out hope for positive outcomes, stating, "I would love to see something good come out" of the current administration's policy direction.
Remarkably, the personal friendship between Lopez and Springsteen has endured these political differences. Lopez described their current relationship as "perfect," characterized by sporadic phone calls and a deep understanding forged over decades. "If he wants me to do something, he’ll call me," Lopez said, adding that sometimes the calls are simply because "he hasn’t seen me for a while." However, some calls now carry heavier news, as Lopez noted, "Most of the time it’s terrible when I call him because it’s when one of our crew died and he doesn’t know that. That’s happening more and more." Lopez attended a Springsteen show in Philadelphia some years ago, slipping in quietly to observe the spectacle his former bandmate has become.
