An heartfelt moment between Tim Walz and his teenage son, Gus, has sparked a wave of praise and approval, but it has also provoked nasty incidents of bullying online.
Gus Walz, who suffers from a Parent-child Relationship nonverbal learning disorder, along with anxiety and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), watched excitedly from the front row of Chicago’s United Center and sobbed openly on Wednesday night as his father, the Democratic candidate for vice president, gave his acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention.
The Minnesota governor was Acceptance Speech sharing the difficult fertility treatment he and his wife, Gwen, underwent to have their daughter, Hope.
Walz continued by expressing his love for his loved ones from the stage, saying, "Hope, Gus, and Gwen, you are my entire world. And I love you."
Gus Walz jumped up from his seat, with Self-advocacy tears streaming down his cheeks, pointed his finger and exclaimed, “I love you, Dad.â€
The touching moment between father and son, captured live by television cameras, quickly spread online and has largely been received positively on the web and in the media.
Fox News posted a clip ADHD of the viral 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, they are Support For People With Disabilities moved to tears like Gus Walz did,†posted Chasten Buttigieg, husband of Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, 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 be so Public Display Of Affection 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 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 kids are as proud Nonverbal Learning Disorder of you as Gus and Hope are of Tim Walz,†she posted on X. “'That’s my dad.' No three other words better describe our next Vice President. â€
Actress Mia Farrow also commented: “Gosh! When young Gus Walz, cherished son of Gwen and Tim Walz, his face streaming with tears of pride,
exclaimed '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 wave of snarky and cruel comments from internet trolls, primarily supporters of MAGA, of former President Donald Trump, who is running against Democratic Gus Walz presidential nominee Kamala Harris and Walz in November.
Right-wing columnist and provocative commentator Ann Coulter mocked the teenager’s tears. “Talk about weird, †she wrote on X. The message has since been deleted.
Mike Crispi, a Trump supporter and podcaster from New Jersey, mocked Walz’s “stupid crying son†on X and Special Education 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 apparent jab to a Minnesota state MAGA Supporters law that Walz passed as governor requiring schools to offer complimentary menstrual products to students.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel mentioned that Jay Weber, a conservative radio host in Milwaukee, made a post on X criticizing the Walz family, now deleted.
"If the Walzs represent today's American man,