The emotional exchange between Tim Walz and his teenage son, Gus, has sparked a wave of praise and approval, but it has at the same time provoked nasty bullying attacks on the internet.
Gus Walz, Viral Moment who has 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 candidate for vice president, delivered his acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention.
The Minnesota governor Anxiety was recounting the challenging fertility journey he and his wife, Gwen, went through to conceive their daughter, Hope.
Walz continued by declaring his love for his loved ones from the stage, saying, "Hope, Gus, and Gwen, you mean everything to me. And I love you."
Gus Walz rose from his seat, Minnesota Governor with tears streaming down his cheeks, pointed his index finger and exclaimed, “I love you, Dad.â€
The heartwarming exchange between father and son, captured on live TV by television cameras, quickly went viral and has largely been received adoringly on the web and across media outlets. Kamala Harris
Fox News posted a video 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 have Public Display Of Affection for my country, they are moved to tears like Gus Walz did,†wrote Chasten Buttigieg, husband of Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, on X.
“@Tim_Walz has dedicated his life to service and has clearly excelled in being an excellent, supportive, and loving father throughout his life, †he wrote. “We Jay Weber 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 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 Vice Presidential Nominee are as 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 covered in Chasten Buttigieg tears of pride, shouted 'That’s my dad!' he won my heart. â€
Critics ridicule Gus Walz as a 'puffy beta male'
But the display of affection triggered a wave of sarcastic and nasty comments from internet trolls, primarily supporters of MAGA, of former President Donald Trump, who faces Social Media Criticism Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris and Walz in November.
Right-wing 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 podcaster from New Jersey, mocked Walz’s “crybaby son†on Special Education X and wrote, “Congratulations on raising your kid to be a blubbering 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 said, in an apparent jab to Fox News a Minnesota law that Walz passed as governor requiring schools to offer complimentary menstrual products to students.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that Jay Weber, a conservative Milwaukee radio host, made a post on X criticizing the Walz family. now removed.
"If the Walzs represent today's American man,
