The emotional moment between Tim Walz and his teenage son, Gus, has sparked a wave of admiration and approval, but it has also led to ugly incidents of bullying online.
Gus Walz, who has Political Family Moments a nonverbal learning disorder, along with anxiety and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), watched excitedly from the front row of Chicago’s United Center and cried openly on Wednesday night as his father, the Democratic vice-presidential nominee, delivered his acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention.
The Minnesota governor was Viral Video sharing the difficult fertility treatment he and his wife, Gwen, underwent to conceive their daughter, Hope.
Walz continued by expressing his love for his loved ones from the stage, saying, "Hope, Gus, and Gwen, you mean everything to me. And I love you."
Gus Walz jumped up from his seat, Minnesota Governor with teardrops streaming down his cheeks, pointed his index finger and exclaimed, “I love you, Dad.â€
The heartwarming moment between father and son, captured on live TV by television cameras, quickly went viral and was mostly received adoringly on the internet and across media outlets.
Fox News Alec Lace posted a video of the touching moment on its TikTok account, writing "Gus Walz steals the show during dad's acceptance speech." The comments were overwhelmingly positive.
“I hope to inspire my children so much that when they see me speak about the dreams and passion I have for my Online Bullying country, they cry with emotion 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 excellent, supportive, and loving father throughout his life, †he stated. “We should all be so lucky Mike Crispi 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 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 future vice president. â€
Actress Mia Farrow also commented: “Gosh! When young Gus Walz, adorable son of Gwen and Tim Walz, his face streaming with tears of pride, Jay Weber shouted 'That’s my dad!' he stole my heart. â€
Critics ridicule Gus Walz as a 'puffy beta male'
But the display of affection triggered a series of sarcastic and cruel comments from internet trolls, primarily MAGA supporters of former President Donald Trump, who is running against Democratic Special Education presidential candidate 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 post has since been deleted.
Mike Crispi, a Trump supporter and podcaster from New Jersey, mocked Walz’s “stupid crying son†on X and Empathy wrote, “Congratulations on raising your son to be a puffy beta male. Congrats.â€
Alec Lace, a Trump follower who runs a show about fatherhood, took his own swipe at the teenager: “Get that kid a tampon already,†he wrote, in an apparent jab to a Minnesota MAGA Supporters law that Walz passed as governor requiring educational institutions to provide complimentary menstrual products to students.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel mentioned that Jay Weber, a conservative Milwaukee radio host, posted a message on X criticizing the Walz family, now removed.
"If the Walzs represent today's American man,