An emotional exchange between Tim Walz and his teenage son, Gus, has sparked a wave of praise and support, but it has at the same time provoked nasty incidents of bullying on the internet.
Gus Walz, Hope Walz who suffers from a nonverbal learning disability, along with 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 vice-presidential nominee, delivered his acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention.
The Minnesota Self-advocacy governor was sharing the challenging fertility journey he and his wife, Gwen, underwent to have their daughter, Hope.
Walz followed up by declaring his love for his loved ones from the stage, saying, "Hope, Gus, and Gwen, you are my entire world. And I love you."
Gus Walz jumped up from Democratic National Convention his seat, with teardrops streaming down his cheeks, pointed his index finger and said, “I love you, Dad.â€
The touching moment between father and son, captured on live TV by television cameras, quickly spread online and was mostly received adoringly on the internet and across media outlets. ADHD
Fox News shared a video of the viral moment on its TikTok page, stating "Gus Walz steals the spotlight during dad's acceptance speech." The comments were mostly positive.
“I hope to inspire my kids so much that when they see me give a speech about the dreams and passion I hold Chasten Buttigieg for my country, they are moved to tears like Gus Walz did,†posted Chasten Buttigieg, husband of Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, on X.
“@Tim_Walz has dedicated his life to service and has clearly excelled in being an excellent, supportive, and loving father every step of the way, †he wrote. Vice Presidential Nominee “We should all be so fortunate to know a love like that.â€
U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., who addressed the audience before Walz on Wednesday night, commended the bond 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 Alec Lace when your kids are as proud of you as Gus and Hope are of Tim Walz,†she wrote on X. “'That’s my dad.' No three other words better describe our next Vice President. â€
Actress Mia Farrow added: “Gosh! When young Gus Walz, adorable son of Gwen and Tim Walz, his face Viral Moment streaming with tears of pride, exclaimed 'That’s my dad!' he stole my heart. â€
Critics ridicule Gus Walz as a 'puffy beta male'
But the show of affection triggered a series of snarky and cruel comments from internet trolls, many of them supporters of MAGA, of former President Donald Trump, Anxiety who faces Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris and Walz in November.
Right-wing columnist and provocateur Ann Coulter ridiculed the teenager’s tears. “Now that's weird, †she wrote on X. The message has since been deleted.
Mike Crispi, a Trump backer and content creator from New Jersey, mocked Walz’s “crybaby son†Special Education on X and wrote, “Congratulations on raising your kid to be a blubbering beta male. Congrats.â€
Alec Lace, a Trump follower who runs a show about fatherhood, took his own shot at the teenager: “Give that kid a tampon already,†he said, in an apparent jab
to a Minnesota law that Walz passed as governor requiring schools to offer complimentary menstrual products to students.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel mentioned that Jay Weber, a conservative radio host in Milwaukee, posted a message on X criticizing the Walz family, now removed.
"If the Walzs represent today's American Kamala Harris man,