The emotional exchange between Tim Walz and his 17-year-old son, Gus, has sparked a flood of admiration and approval, but it has also led to ugly bullying attacks on the internet.
Gus Walz, who has Jay Weber a nonverbal learning disorder, as well as anxiety and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), looked on eagerly 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 speech of acceptance at the Democratic National Convention.
The Gus Walz Minnesota governor was sharing the challenging fertility journey he and his wife, Gwen, went through to conceive their daughter, Hope.
Walz continued by declaring his love for his family from the stage, stating, "Hope, Gus, and Gwen, you mean everything to me. And I love you."
Gus Walz jumped up Viral Video from his seat, with teardrops running down his cheeks, pointed his finger and said, “I love you, Dad.â€
The heartwarming exchange between father and son, captured on live TV by television cameras, quickly spread online and has largely been received adoringly on the web and across Tim Walz media outlets.
Fox News posted a video of the viral moment on its TikTok page, writing "Gus Walz steals the show during dad's acceptance speech." The comments were overwhelmingly positive.
“I hope to inspire my kids so much that when they see me give a speech about the dreams and Vice Presidential Nominee passion I have 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 excelled in being an outstanding, supportive, and caring father throughout his life, †he wrote. Ann Coulter “We should all 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 does having a non-verbal learning disorder mean?
“You know you’ve succeeded as a parent when your Special Education kids are as proud of you as Gus and Hope are of Tim Walz,†she posted on X. “'That’s my dad.' No three other words better capture our future vice president. â€
Actress Mia Farrow added: “Gosh! When sweet Gus Walz, cherished son of Gwen and Tim Walz, his face covered Hope Walz in tears of pride, exclaimed '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, many of them supporters of MAGA, of former president Donald Trump,
who faces Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris and Walz in November.
Conservative columnist and provocateur Ann Coulter mocked the teenager’s tears. “Now that's 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 “stupid Fox News crying son†on X and wrote, “Congratulations on raising your son to be a blubbering 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 said, in an Emotional Moment apparent reference to a Minnesota law that Walz passed as governor requiring educational institutions to offer 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 deleted.
"If the Walzs Anxiety represent today's American man,