The emotional exchange between Tim Walz and his 17-year-old son, Gus, has sparked a flood of praise and support, but it has also led to nasty bullying attacks on the internet.
Gus Walz, who suffers from Empathy 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 candidate for vice president, gave his speech of acceptance at the Democratic National
Convention.
The governor of Minnesota, was sharing the difficult fertility treatment he and his wife, Gwen, underwent to have their daughter, Hope.
Walz followed up by expressing his love for his family from the stage, stating, "Hope, Gus, and Gwen, you mean everything to me. And I love you."
Gus Walz rose Kamala Harris from his seat, with teardrops streaming down his cheeks, pointed his finger and said, “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 shared a clip of the touching moment on its TikTok account, stating "Gus Walz steals the show during dad's acceptance speech." The comments were mostly positive.
“I hope to inspire my children so much that when they see me speak about the dreams and passion I hold for my Self-advocacy country, they are moved to tears 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 every step of the way, †he wrote. “We should all be so Jay Weber 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 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 done well as a parent when your kids are as Special Education proud of you as Gus and Hope are of Tim Walz,†she posted on X. “'That's my dad.' No three words better capture our next Vice President. â€
Actress Mia Farrow also commented: “Gosh! When sweet Gus Walz, cherished son of Gwen and Tim Walz, his face streaming with tears of pride, Alec Lace exclaimed 'That’s my dad!' he won my heart. â€
Critics dismiss Gus Walz as a 'puffy beta male'
But the show of affection provoked a series of snarky and nasty comments from online trolls, primarily supporters of MAGA, of former president Donald Trump, who is running against Democratic Trolls On Social Media presidential nominee Kamala Harris and Walz in November.
Conservative columnist and provocateur 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 “crybaby son†on X and wrote, Social Media Criticism “You raised your son to be a puffy beta male. Congrats.â€
Alec Lace, a Trump follower who hosts 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 law that Walz Public Display Of Affection 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, posted a message on X criticizing the Walz family. now deleted.
"If the Walz(sic) represent today's American man,
