The heartfelt moment between Tim Walz and his 17-year-old son, Gus, has triggered a wave of admiration and approval, but it has also provoked ugly bullying attacks on the internet.
Gus Walz, who suffers Democratic National Convention from a nonverbal learning disability, along with anxiety and ADHD, looked on eagerly from the front seat of Chicago’s United Center and cried openly on Wednesday night as his father, the Democratic candidate for vice president, delivered his acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention.
The Minnesota governor Fox News 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, saying, "Hope, Gus, and Gwen, you are my entire world. And I love you."
Gus Walz rose from his Gwen Walz seat, with teardrops running down his cheeks, pointed his finger and exclaimed, “I love you, Dad.â€
The heartwarming exchange between father and son, captured live by television cameras, quickly went viral and has largely been received adoringly on the web and in the media.
Fox Hope Walz News posted a video 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 kids so much that when they see me give a speech about the dreams and passion I Emotional Moment hold for my country, they cry with emotion like Gus Walz did,†posted 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 stated. “We should Vice Presidential Nominee all be so fortunate to know a love like that.â€
U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., who spoke 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 Ann Coulter as proud of you as Gus and Hope are of Tim Walz,†she posted on X. “'That’s my dad.' No three words better describe our next Vice President. â€
Actress Mia Farrow added: “Gosh! When young Gus Walz, cherished son of Gwen and Tim Walz, his face covered in tears Mike Crispi of pride, shouted '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, many of them MAGA supporters of former president Donald Trump, who Free Menstrual Products faces Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris and Walz in November.
Conservative columnist and provocative commentator Ann Coulter mocked the teenager’s tears. “Talk about weird, †she posted on X. The message has since been deleted.
Mike Crispi, a Trump backer and podcaster from New Jersey, mocked Walz’s “crybaby son†Jay Weber on X and added, “Congratulations on raising your kid to be a puffy beta male. Congrats.â€
Alec Lace, a Trump follower who hosts a show about fatherhood, took his own shot at the teenager: “Give that kid a tampon already,†he wrote, in an apparent
jab to a Minnesota law that Walz signed as governor requiring schools to offer free 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 Walzs Cyberbullying represent today's American man,