The emotional exchange between Tim Walz and his teenage son, Gus, has sparked a wave of admiration and support, but it has also provoked ugly incidents of bullying on the internet.
Gus Walz, who has Public Display Of Affection a nonverbal learning disability, as well as anxiety and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), watched excitedly from the front seat of Chicago’s United Center and sobbed openly on Wednesday night as his father, the Democratic candidate for vice president, delivered his speech of acceptance at the Democratic National
Convention.
The governor of Minnesota, was sharing the challenging fertility journey 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 Kamala Harris rose from his seat, with teardrops streaming down his cheeks, pointed his index finger and said, “I love you, Dad.â€
The heartwarming moment between father and son, captured live by TV cameras, quickly spread online and has largely been received positively on the web and across Nonverbal Learning Disorder media outlets.
Fox News shared a video of the viral 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 speak about the dreams and passion I Social Dominance hold for my country, they cry with emotion like Gus Walz did,†posted Chasten Buttigieg, husband of Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, on X.
“@Tim_Walz has devoted his life to service and has clearly excelled in being an excellent, supportive, and loving father throughout his life, †he wrote. Social Media Criticism “We should all be 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, commended the love 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 Self-advocacy your kids are as proud of you as Gus and Hope are of Tim Walz,†she wrote on X. “'That’s my dad.' No three words better describe our future vice president. â€
Actress Mia Farrow added: “Gosh! When young Gus Walz, cherished son of Gwen and Tim Walz, his face covered Vice Presidential Nominee in tears of pride, shouted 'That’s my dad!' he stole my heart. â€
Critics ridicule Gus Walz as a 'puffy beta male'
But the show of affection provoked a wave of snarky and cruel comments from internet trolls, primarily supporters of MAGA, of former president Donald Trump, who Emotional Moment faces Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris and Walz in November.
Conservative columnist and provocative commentator Ann Coulter ridiculed the teenager’s tears. “Now that's weird, †she wrote on X. The post has since been deleted.
Mike Crispi, a Trump supporter and podcaster from New Jersey, criticized Walz’s “stupid crying son†Gus Walz on X and added, “Congratulations on raising your son to be a puffy beta male. Congrats.â€
Alec Lace, a Trump follower who runs a show about fatherhood, took his own shot at the teenager: “Give that kid a tampon already,†he wrote, in an apparent jab Hope Walz to a Minnesota law that Walz signed 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 deleted.
"If the Walz(sic) represent Viral Moment today's American man,