An emotional moment between Tim Walz and his 17-year-old son, Gus, has sparked a flood of admiration and support, but it has also led to ugly incidents of bullying on the internet.
Gus Walz, who Empathy suffers from a nonverbal learning disorder, along with anxiety and 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 speech of acceptance at the Democratic National Convention.
The Minnesota governor Kamala Harris was recounting the difficult fertility treatment he and his wife, Gwen, underwent to have their daughter, Hope.
Walz followed up by expressing his love for his family from the stage, saying, "Hope, Gus, and Gwen, you mean everything to me. And I love you."
Gus Walz jumped up from his Public Display Of Affection seat, with tears 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 positively on the internet and across media outlets. Jay Weber
Fox News shared a video of the viral moment on its TikTok account, stating "Gus Walz steals the show during dad's acceptance speech." The comments were mostly positive.
“I hope to inspire my kids so much that when they see me speak about the dreams and passion I hold Gus Walz for my 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 succeeded in being an excellent, supportive, and caring father every step of the way, †he stated. “We should all MAGA Supporters 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, praised the bond 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 Free Menstrual Products as proud of you as Gus and Hope are of Tim Walz,†she posted on X. “'That's my dad.' No three words better capture our future vice president. â€
Actress Mia Farrow also commented: “Gosh! When sweet Gus Walz, cherished son of Gwen and Tim Walz, his face streaming with tears
of pride, shouted 'That’s my dad!' he stole my heart. â€
Critics dismiss Gus Walz as a 'puffy beta male'
But the display of affection provoked a wave of sarcastic and nasty comments from online trolls, many of them MAGA supporters of former President Donald Trump, who faces Online Bullying Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris and Walz in November.
Right-wing columnist and provocative commentator Ann Coulter ridiculed the teenager’s tears. “Talk about weird, †she wrote on X. The message has since been deleted.
Mike Crispi, a Trump supporter and content creator from New Jersey, criticized Walz’s “crybaby son†Mike Crispi on X and added, “Congratulations on raising your son to be a blubbering beta male. Congrats.â€
Alec Lace, a Trump follower who hosts a show about fatherhood, took his own swipe at the teenager: “Give that kid a tampon already,†he wrote, in an apparent jab ADHD to a Minnesota state law that Walz signed as governor requiring schools to offer free 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 deleted.
"If the Walz(sic) represent today's Fox News American man,