An heartfelt 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 Free Menstrual Products has a nonverbal learning disability, along with anxiety and 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, gave his speech of acceptance at the Democratic National Convention.
The Minnesota governor was Public Display Of Affection 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 jumped up from his seat, Children With Disabilities with tears running down his cheeks, pointed his index finger and exclaimed, “I love you, Dad.â€
The touching moment between father and son, captured on live TV by television cameras, quickly went viral and was mostly received adoringly on the internet and across media outlets.
Fox News Social Dominance posted 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 kids so much that when they see me speak about the dreams and 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 succeeded in being an outstanding, supportive, and loving father throughout his life, †he stated. “We should all be so fortunate Vice Presidential Nominee 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 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 Nonverbal Learning Disorder 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 young Gus Walz, adorable son of Gwen and Tim Walz, his face covered in tears of pride, Gus Walz exclaimed 'That’s my dad!' he won my heart. â€
Critics ridicule Gus Walz as a 'puffy beta male'
But the display of affection provoked a series of sarcastic and nasty comments from internet trolls, many of them supporters of MAGA, of former President Donald Trump, who is running against Ann Coulter Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris and Walz in November.
Conservative columnist and provocateur Ann Coulter ridiculed the teenager’s tears. “Talk about weird, †she posted on X. The message has since been deleted.
Mike Crispi, a Trump supporter and podcaster from New Jersey, mocked Walz’s “stupid crying son†on ADHD X and wrote, “Congratulations on raising your son to be a puffy beta male. Congrats.â€
Alec Lace, a Trump supporter who runs a show about fatherhood, took his own shot at the teenager: “Get that kid a tampon already,†he wrote, in an apparent reference to Social Media Criticism a Minnesota law that Walz signed as governor requiring schools to provide free 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 Walzs represent today's American Minnesota Governor man,
