Former drummer for Bruce Springsteen slams singer’s political activism, says he should ‘respect’ President Trump

The former drummer for Bruce Springsteen is criticizing the singer for his ongoing public criticisms of President Donald Trump, saying he believes the president deserves respect.

During his recent “Land of Hopes and Dreams” tour, Springsteen said that the current government is a “corrupt, incompetent, racist, reckless and treasonous administration.” In response to this, drummer Vini “Mad Dog” Lopez told The New York Post, “You gotta have respect for the president."

“Trump is the president of the United States — everyone should have respect for him,” he explained.

“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,” Lopez added. “I wouldn’t talk to him about anything that’s going on” politically.

Lopez was Springsteen’s drummer for six years and played on his debut album “Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J.” He later left the band, saying he was “too jazzy for what [Springsteen] wanted to do.”

Now, Lopez said he avoids political messaging in his music with his current band.

“Maybe when I was 20, I was a little more extreme, but I’m 77 now, so the extremities are gone,” Lopez said. “It’s so divided, the political part. It’s a tough one on me.”

Lopez also recalled meeting Trump years ago while working as a caddie at a golf course in Bedminster, New Jersey, saying, “He was very nice to me. He was very inquisitive and introduced me to Melania.” He added that Trump told him to “Tell Bruce I’m his biggest fan.”