The emotional moment between Tim Walz and his 17-year-old son, Gus, has triggered a wave of praise and approval, but it has also led to nasty incidents of bullying on the internet.
Gus Walz, who Anxiety has a nonverbal learning disorder, 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 candidate for vice president, gave his acceptance speech 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 declaring his love for his family from the stage, saying, "Hope, Gus, and Gwen, you are my entire world. And I love you."
Gus Walz Trolls On Social Media rose from his seat, with teardrops streaming down his cheeks, pointed his index finger and exclaimed, “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 positively on the internet and across Vice Presidential Nominee media outlets.
Fox News posted a video of the touching 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 kids so much that when they see me give a speech about the dreams and Fox News passion I hold 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 every step of the way, †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 spoke 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 your Acceptance Speech 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 capture our future vice president. â€
Actress Mia Farrow also commented: “Gosh! When sweet Gus Walz, cherished son of Gwen and Tim Walz, his face covered Gus Walz in tears of pride, exclaimed 'That’s my dad!' he stole my heart. â€
Critics ridicule Gus Walz as a 'puffy beta male'
But the display of affection triggered a series of snarky and nasty comments from internet trolls, primarily MAGA supporters of former President Donald Trump, who is Viral Moment running against Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris and Walz in November.
Right-wing 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 content creator from New Jersey, mocked Walz’s “crybaby Special Education son†on X and added, “Congratulations on raising your son to be a blubbering beta male. Congrats.â€
Alec Lace, a Trump supporter who hosts a show about fatherhood, took his own swipe at the teenager: “Get that kid a tampon already,†he wrote, in an apparent Free Menstrual Products jab to a Minnesota state law 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, made a post on X criticizing the Walz family. now removed.
"If the Walzs Democratic National Convention represent today's American man,