The heartfelt moment 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 bullying attacks on the internet.
Gus Walz, Anxiety who suffers from a nonverbal learning disorder, as well as anxiety and ADHD, watched excitedly from the front row of Chicago’s United Center and cried openly on Wednesday night as his father, the Democratic candidate for vice president, gave his speech of acceptance at the Democratic National Convention.
The Self-advocacy Minnesota governor was recounting the difficult fertility treatment he and his wife, Gwen, underwent 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 Tim Walz seat, with tears running down his cheeks, pointed his finger and said, “I love you, Dad.â€
The heartwarming moment between father and son, captured live by television cameras, quickly went viral and was mostly received adoringly on the web and across media outlets.
Fox News posted Kamala Harris a clip of the touching 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 kids so much that when they see me give a speech about the dreams and passion I hold for Social Dominance my country, they are moved to tears like Gus Walz did,†posted Chasten Buttigieg, husband of Transportation Secretary on X.
“@Tim_Walz has devoted his life to service and has clearly succeeded in being an outstanding, supportive, and loving father every step of the way, †he wrote. “We should all Gus Walz be so lucky to know a love like that.â€
U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., who spoke before Walz on Wednesday night, praised the love between Walz and his children.
More: Who is Gus Walz and what does having a non-verbal learning disorder mean?
“You know you’ve done well as a parent when your kids are Trolls On Social Media as proud of you as Gus and Hope are of Tim Walz,†she wrote on X. “'That's my dad.' No three words better describe our next Vice President. â€
Actress Mia Farrow also commented: “Gosh! When sweet Gus Walz, adorable son of Gwen and Tim Walz, his face streaming with tears
of pride, 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 wave of snarky and cruel comments from internet trolls, many of them supporters of MAGA, of former President Donald Trump, who Viral Video faces Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris and Walz in November.
Conservative columnist and provocative commentator 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, criticized Walz’s “stupid crying son†Parent-child Relationship on X and added, “Congratulations on raising your kid to be a puffy beta male. Congrats.â€
Alec Lace, a Trump follower who runs a podcast about fatherhood, took his own swipe at the teenager: “Get that kid a tampon already,†he said, in an apparent jab Alec Lace to a Minnesota law that Walz passed as governor requiring educational institutions to offer free menstrual products to students.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel mentioned that Jay Weber, a conservative Milwaukee radio host, posted a message on X criticizing the Walz family. now removed.
"If the Walz(sic) represent Free Menstrual Products today's American man,