An heartfelt moment between Tim Walz and his teenage son, Gus, has sparked a wave of admiration and approval, but it has at the same time provoked ugly bullying attacks on the internet.
Gus Walz, Self-advocacy who suffers from a nonverbal learning disorder, along with anxiety and ADHD, looked on eagerly from the front seat 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 Minnesota Parent-child Relationship governor was recounting the challenging fertility journey he and his wife, Gwen, underwent to conceive their daughter, Hope.
Walz followed up by expressing 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 Emotional Moment from his seat, with teardrops running down his cheeks, pointed his finger and exclaimed, “I love you, Dad.â€
The heartwarming moment between father and son, captured live by television cameras, quickly went viral and has largely been received adoringly on the web and in the media. Democratic National Convention
Fox News shared a video of the viral moment on its TikTok account, writing "Gus Walz steals the spotlight during dad's acceptance speech." The comments were overwhelmingly positive.
“I hope to inspire my children so much that when they see me speak about the dreams and passion I have Online Bullying for my country, they cry with emotion 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 every step of the way, †he wrote. “We should all Fox News be so lucky 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 is a non-verbal learning disorder?
“You know you’ve done well as a parent when your kids are as proud Cyberbullying of you as Gus and Hope are of Tim Walz,†she posted on X. “'That’s my dad.' No three other words better describe our future vice president. â€
Actress Mia Farrow also commented: “Gosh! When sweet Gus Walz, cherished son of Gwen and Tim Walz, his face streaming with tears of Social Media Criticism 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 provoked a wave of sarcastic and cruel comments from internet trolls, many of them supporters of MAGA, of former President Donald Trump, who faces Viral Moment Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris and Walz in November.
Right-wing columnist and provocateur Ann Coulter ridiculed the teenager’s tears. “Talk about weird, †she posted on X. The post has since been deleted.
Mike Crispi, a Trump supporter and content creator from New Jersey, mocked Walz’s “stupid crying son†Chasten Buttigieg on X and added, “Congratulations on raising your kid to be a blubbering beta male. Congrats.â€
Alec Lace, a Trump supporter who hosts a podcast about fatherhood, took his own shot at the teenager: “Get that kid a tampon already,†he said, in an apparent reference Tim Walz to a Minnesota law that Walz passed as governor requiring schools to offer complimentary menstrual products to students.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel mentioned that Jay Weber, a conservative Milwaukee radio host, made a post on X criticizing the Walz family. now deleted.
"If the Walzs represent today's American
man,