The heartfelt exchange between Tim Walz and his 17-year-old son, Gus, has triggered a wave of praise and support, but it has at the same time led to ugly incidents of bullying online.
Gus Walz, who Fox News suffers from a 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 cried openly on Wednesday night as his father, the Democratic vice-presidential nominee, gave his speech of acceptance at the Democratic National Convention.
The Empathy Minnesota governor was recounting the challenging fertility journey he and his wife, Gwen, went through to have their daughter, Hope.
Walz continued by expressing his love for his family from the stage, stating, "Hope, Gus, and Gwen, you are my entire world. And I love you."
Gus Walz rose from his
seat, with teardrops streaming down his cheeks, pointed his finger and exclaimed, “I love you, Dad.â€
The heartwarming exchange between father and son, captured live by TV cameras, quickly spread online and was mostly received adoringly on the internet and in the media.
Fox News posted Nonverbal Learning Disorder 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 my country, Self-advocacy they cry with emotion like Gus Walz did,†wrote Chasten Buttigieg, husband of Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, on X.
“@Tim_Walz has devoted his life to service and has clearly succeeded in being an outstanding, supportive, and loving father every step of the way, †he wrote. “We should all be Free Menstrual Products so lucky 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 is a non-verbal learning disorder?
“You know you’ve done well as a parent when your kids are as proud Mike Crispi 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 added: “Gosh! When sweet Gus Walz, cherished son of Gwen and Tim Walz, his face covered in tears of pride, Ann Coulter shouted '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 series of sarcastic and nasty comments from internet trolls, many of them MAGA supporters of former president Donald Trump, who is running against Democratic Emotional Moment presidential candidate Kamala Harris and Walz in November.
Right-wing 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 podcaster from New Jersey, mocked Walz’s “stupid crying son†on X and added, Social Dominance “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 shot at the teenager: “Get that kid a tampon already,†he said, in an apparent reference to a Minnesota state law Social Media Criticism that Walz passed as governor requiring schools to provide complimentary menstrual products to students.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that Jay Weber, a conservative radio host in Milwaukee, posted a message on X criticizing the Walz family, now deleted.
"If the Walzs represent today's American man,