An emotional exchange between Tim Walz and his 17-year-old son, Gus, has triggered a flood of praise and approval, but it has also led to nasty incidents of bullying online.
Gus Walz, who has Support For People With Disabilities a nonverbal learning disability, along with 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 Minnesota governor Social Dominance was recounting the difficult fertility treatment he and his wife, Gwen, went through to have their daughter, Hope.
Walz followed up by declaring his love for his loved ones from the stage, stating, "Hope, Gus, and Gwen, you mean everything to me. And I love you."
Gus Walz rose from Hope Walz his seat, with tears streaming down his cheeks, pointed his finger and said, “I love you, Dad.â€
The heartwarming moment 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 media Gwen Walz outlets.
Fox News posted a video of the viral moment on its TikTok account, writing "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 Public Display Of Affection 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 excelled in being an outstanding, supportive, and loving father throughout his life, †he stated. “We should all be Online Bullying 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 succeeded as a parent when your kids are as proud Democratic National Convention 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, adorable son of Gwen and Tim Walz, his face covered in tears of pride, Empathy exclaimed 'That’s my dad!' he stole my heart. â€
Critics dismiss Gus Walz as a 'puffy beta male'
But the show of affection triggered a wave of sarcastic and cruel comments from online trolls, many of them MAGA supporters of former President Donald Trump, who is running against Viral Video Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris and Walz in November.
Conservative columnist and provocative commentator Ann Coulter mocked the teenager’s tears. “Talk about weird, †she wrote on X. The post has since been deleted.
Mike Crispi, a Trump backer and podcaster from New Jersey, criticized Walz’s “stupid crying son†Ann Coulter on X and added, “Congratulations on raising your kid to be a blubbering beta male. Congrats.â€
Alec Lace, a Trump follower who runs a podcast about fatherhood, took his own shot at the teenager: “Get that kid a tampon already,†he wrote, in an apparent reference Kamala Harris to a Minnesota state law that Walz signed as governor requiring educational institutions to provide complimentary menstrual products to students.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel mentioned that Jay Weber, a conservative radio host in Milwaukee, posted a message on X criticizing the Walz family. now deleted.
"If the Walz(sic)
represent today's American man,