The heartfelt exchange between Tim Walz and his 17-year-old son, Gus, has triggered a flood of praise and support, but it has also led to ugly incidents of bullying on the internet.
Gus Walz, who Parent-child Relationship has a nonverbal learning disorder, along with anxiety and ADHD, looked on eagerly from the front row 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, MAGA Supporters was recounting the difficult fertility treatment he and his wife, Gwen, went through to conceive their daughter, Hope.
Walz continued 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 rose from his seat, Mike Crispi with tears streaming down his cheeks, pointed his index finger and said, “I love you, Dad.â€
The heartwarming moment between father and son, captured on live TV by television cameras, quickly spread online and was mostly received adoringly on the web and across media outlets.
Fox News Kamala Harris posted a video of the viral moment on its TikTok page, writing "Gus Walz steals the spotlight during dad's acceptance speech." The comments were mostly positive.
“I hope to inspire my children so much that when they see me give a speech 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 Transportation Secretary 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 should all be Gwen Walz 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, praised the love between Walz and his children.
More: Who is Gus Walz and what is a non-verbal learning disorder?
“You know you’ve succeeded as a parent when your kids 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 young Gus Walz, cherished son of Gwen and Tim Walz, his face streaming with tears of pride, Chasten Buttigieg shouted 'That’s my dad!' he won my heart. â€
Critics dismiss Gus Walz as a 'puffy beta male'
But the show of affection provoked a series of snarky and cruel comments from internet trolls, many of them supporters of MAGA, of former President Donald Trump, who is running Emotional Moment against 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 posted on X. The post has since been deleted.
Mike Crispi, a Trump backer and podcaster from New Jersey, criticized Walz’s “crybaby son†Fox News 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 podcast about fatherhood, took his own shot at the teenager: “Get that kid a tampon already,†he said, in an apparent jab Nonverbal Learning Disorder to a Minnesota law that Walz signed as governor requiring educational institutions to offer free 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 Walz(sic) represent Tim Walz today's American man,