The heartfelt exchange between Tim Walz and his 17-year-old son, Gus, has triggered a flood of praise and approval, but it has at the same time provoked nasty bullying attacks on the internet.
Gus Walz, who Empathy suffers from a nonverbal learning disorder, as well as anxiety and ADHD, watched excitedly from the front seat of Chicago’s United Center and cried openly on Wednesday night as his father, the Democratic vice-presidential nominee, delivered his speech of acceptance at the Democratic National Convention.
The Minnesota governor was Alec Lace sharing the difficult fertility treatment he and his wife, Gwen, underwent to have their daughter, Hope.
Walz followed up by declaring his love for his loved ones from the stage, stating, "Hope, Gus, and Gwen, you are my entire world. And I love you."
Gus Walz jumped up from his seat, Anxiety with teardrops streaming down his cheeks, pointed his index finger and exclaimed, “I love you, Dad.â€
The touching moment between father and son, captured live by TV cameras, quickly went viral and was mostly received adoringly on the internet and in the media.
Fox News posted a Viral Moment video of the viral moment on its TikTok account, writing "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 passion I hold for my country, they Social Media Criticism are moved to tears like Gus Walz did,†posted Chasten Buttigieg, husband of Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, on X.
“@Tim_Walz has dedicated his life to service and has clearly succeeded in being an excellent, supportive, and caring father every step of the way, †he wrote. “We should all be Parent-child Relationship so lucky 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 is a non-verbal learning disorder?
“You know you’ve done well 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 other words better capture our future vice president. â€
Actress Mia Farrow also commented: “Gosh! When young Gus Walz, adorable son of Gwen and Tim Walz, his face covered in tears of pride, ADHD exclaimed '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 snarky and cruel comments from internet trolls, many of them supporters of MAGA, of former President Donald Trump, who faces Democratic Support For People With Disabilities presidential candidate Kamala Harris and Walz in November.
Conservative columnist and provocateur Ann Coulter mocked the teenager’s tears. “Talk about weird, †she posted on X. The post has since been deleted.
Mike Crispi, a Trump supporter and podcaster from New Jersey, criticized Walz’s “stupid crying son†on X and added, Public Display Of Affection “You raised your son to be a puffy beta male. Congrats.â€
Alec Lace, a Trump follower who hosts a podcast about fatherhood, took his own swipe at the teenager: “Get that kid a tampon already,†he said, in an apparent reference to a Minnesota law that Special Education 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 removed.
"If the Walzs represent today's American man,