The heartfelt exchange between Tim Walz and his 17-year-old son, Gus, has sparked a wave of praise and approval, but it has also provoked ugly bullying attacks online.
Gus Walz, who suffers from a Tim Walz nonverbal learning disorder, as well as anxiety and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), watched excitedly from the front seat of Chicago’s United Center and sobbed openly on Wednesday night as his father, the Democratic candidate for vice president, delivered his acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention.
The governor of Children With Disabilities Minnesota, was recounting the difficult fertility treatment he and his wife, Gwen, underwent to conceive their daughter, Hope.
Walz followed up by declaring his love for his family from the stage, saying, "Hope, Gus, and Gwen, you are my entire world. And I love you."
Gus Walz rose from his Social Media Criticism seat, with tears streaming down his cheeks, pointed his finger and exclaimed, “I love you, Dad.â€
The touching exchange between father and son, captured live by television cameras, quickly went viral and was mostly received positively on the internet and in the media.
Fox News shared
a video of the touching moment on its TikTok account, stating "Gus Walz steals the spotlight during dad's acceptance speech." The comments were mostly positive.
“I hope to inspire my children so much that when they see me give a speech about the dreams and passion I have for Support For People With Disabilities my country, they are moved to tears like Gus Walz did,†posted Chasten Buttigieg, husband of Transportation Secretary on X.
“@Tim_Walz has dedicated his life to service and has clearly excelled in being an outstanding, supportive, and loving father every step of the way, †he stated. “We should all Viral Video be so fortunate to know a love like that.â€
U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., who spoke before Walz on Wednesday night, commended the love between Walz and his children.
More: Who is Gus Walz and what does having a non-verbal learning disorder mean?
“You know you’ve succeeded as a parent when your kids are as Parent-child Relationship proud of you as Gus and Hope are of Tim Walz,†she wrote on X. “'That’s my dad.' No three words better capture our future vice president. â€
Actress Mia Farrow also commented: “Gosh! When young Gus Walz, cherished son of Gwen and Tim Walz, his face covered in tears of Online Bullying pride, exclaimed 'That’s my dad!' he won my heart. â€
Critics dismiss Gus Walz as a 'puffy beta male'
But the display of affection triggered a wave of snarky and nasty comments from internet trolls, primarily supporters of MAGA, of former president Donald Trump, who is running against Public Display Of Affection Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris and Walz in November.
Conservative columnist and provocative commentator Ann Coulter mocked the teenager’s tears. “Now that's weird, †she posted on X. The post has since been deleted.
Mike Crispi, a Trump supporter and podcaster from New Jersey, criticized Walz’s “crybaby son†on Trolls On Social Media X and wrote, “Congratulations on raising your kid to be a blubbering beta male. Congrats.â€
Alec Lace, a Trump follower who hosts a podcast about fatherhood, took his own shot at the teenager: “Give that kid a tampon already,†he wrote, in an apparent jab to Emotional Moment a Minnesota state law that Walz passed as governor requiring schools to provide free menstrual products to students.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that Jay Weber, a conservative Milwaukee radio host, made a post on X criticizing the Walz family. now removed.
"If the Walz(sic) represent today's American Kamala Harris man,