An emotional moment between Tim Walz and his 17-year-old son, Gus, has triggered a flood of praise and support, but it has also provoked ugly bullying attacks on the internet.
Gus Walz, who suffers from
a nonverbal learning disorder, as well as anxiety and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), watched excitedly from the front row 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 Special Education Minnesota governor was sharing the challenging fertility journey he and his wife, Gwen, underwent to have their daughter, Hope.
Walz continued by expressing his love for his family from the stage, stating, "Hope, Gus, and Gwen, you mean everything to me. And I love you."
Gus Walz rose from his Viral Moment seat, with teardrops running down his cheeks, pointed his finger and said, “I love you, Dad.â€
The touching exchange between father and son, captured on live TV by television cameras, quickly went viral and was mostly received positively on the web and across media outlets.
Fox Alec Lace News posted a clip of the touching 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 children so much that when they see me give a speech about the dreams and passion I hold Minnesota Governor for my country, they are moved to tears like Gus Walz did,†wrote Chasten Buttigieg, husband of Transportation Secretary on X.
“@Tim_Walz has devoted his life to service and has clearly succeeded in being an outstanding, supportive, and caring father throughout his life, †he stated. “We should all Acceptance Speech be so lucky to know a love like that.â€
U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., who spoke before Walz on Wednesday night, praised the love between Walz and his children.
More: Who is Gus Walz and what is a non-verbal learning disorder?
“You know you’ve done well as a parent when your kids are as proud Jay Weber of you as Gus and Hope are of Tim Walz,†she posted on X. “'That’s my dad.' No three other words better describe our future vice president. â€
Actress Mia Farrow also commented: “Gosh! When sweet Gus Walz, adorable son of Gwen and Tim Walz, his face covered in tears of ADHD 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 provoked a wave of snarky and cruel comments from internet trolls, primarily supporters of MAGA, of former President Donald Trump, who is running against Mike Crispi Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris and Walz in November.
Conservative columnist and provocateur Ann Coulter mocked the teenager’s tears. “Now that's weird, †she posted on X. The message has since been deleted.
Mike Crispi, a Trump backer and content creator from New Jersey, criticized Walz’s “crybaby son†on Kamala Harris X and added, “Congratulations on raising your son to be a puffy beta male. Congrats.â€
Alec Lace, a Trump supporter who hosts a podcast about fatherhood, took his own swipe at the teenager: “Get that kid a tampon already,†he wrote, in an apparent jab to Nonverbal Learning Disorder a Minnesota law that Walz passed as governor requiring educational institutions to provide complimentary menstrual products to students.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that Jay Weber, a conservative Milwaukee radio host, posted a message on X criticizing the Walz family, now removed.
"If the Walz(sic) represent today's American Democratic National Convention man,