The emotional exchange between Tim Walz and his 17-year-old son, Gus, has sparked a flood of admiration and approval, but it has at the same time provoked ugly incidents of bullying online.
Gus Walz, who Democratic National Convention suffers from a nonverbal learning disorder, along with anxiety and ADHD, watched excitedly from the front seat of Chicago’s United Center and sobbed openly on Wednesday night as his father, the Democratic vice-presidential nominee, gave his speech of acceptance at the Democratic National Convention.
The governor of Minnesota, Cyberbullying was recounting the difficult fertility treatment he and his wife, Gwen, underwent to conceive their daughter, Hope.
Walz continued by expressing 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 seat, with Mike Crispi teardrops running down his cheeks, pointed his finger and said, “I love you, Dad.â€
The heartwarming moment between father and son, captured live by TV cameras, quickly went viral and has largely been received adoringly on the internet and across media outlets.
Fox News posted a Fox News clip of the viral moment on its TikTok account, 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 passion I have for my country, Viral Video 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 succeeded in being an outstanding, supportive, and caring father throughout his life, †he wrote. “We should all be so lucky Nonverbal Learning Disorder 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 does having a non-verbal learning disorder mean?
“You know you’ve succeeded as a parent when your kids are as proud of you Social Media Criticism 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 of pride, exclaimed 'That’s Viral Moment my dad!' he won my heart. â€
Critics dismiss Gus Walz as a 'puffy beta male'
But the show of affection triggered a series of sarcastic and nasty comments from online trolls, many of them MAGA supporters of former president Donald Trump, who faces 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 posted on X. The message has since been deleted.
Mike Crispi, a Trump backer and content creator from New Jersey, mocked Walz’s “stupid crying son†on X and wrote, Hope Walz “Congratulations on raising your kid to be a puffy beta male. Congrats.â€
Alec Lace, a Trump supporter who runs a podcast about fatherhood, took his own shot at the teenager: “Give that kid a tampon already,†he said, in an apparent jab to a Minnesota law Public Display Of Affection that Walz passed as governor requiring schools 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 removed.
"If the Walz(sic) represent today's American man,