The emotional moment between Tim Walz and his 17-year-old son, Gus, has sparked a wave of praise and support, but it has at the same time led to nasty bullying attacks online.
Gus Walz, who Ann Coulter has a nonverbal learning disorder, as well as anxiety and ADHD, looked on eagerly from the front seat of Chicago’s United Center and sobbed openly on Wednesday night as his father, the Democratic candidate for vice president, gave his acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention.
The Minnesota governor Minnesota Governor was recounting the challenging fertility journey he and his wife, Gwen, went through to conceive their daughter, Hope.
Walz continued by expressing his love for his loved ones from the stage, stating, "Hope, Gus, and Gwen, you mean everything to me. And I love you."
Gus Walz jumped up from Gus Walz his seat, with tears streaming down his cheeks, pointed his index finger and exclaimed, “I love you, Dad.â€
The touching exchange between father and son, captured on live TV by TV cameras, quickly spread online and was mostly received positively on the web and in the Social Media Criticism media.
Fox News shared a clip of the viral moment on its TikTok account, stating "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 speak about the dreams and passion I hold Vice Presidential Nominee for my country, they cry with emotion like Gus Walz did,†wrote Chasten Buttigieg, husband of Transportation Secretary on X.
“@Tim_Walz has devoted his life to service and has clearly excelled in being an excellent, supportive, and caring father every step of the way, †he wrote. “We should MAGA Supporters 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, 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 Parent-child Relationship are as proud of you as Gus and Hope are of Tim Walz,†she wrote on X. “'That's my dad.' No three other words better capture our future vice president. â€
Actress Mia Farrow added: “Gosh! When sweet Gus Walz, cherished son of Gwen and Tim Walz, his face streaming with Fox News tears of pride, shouted 'That’s my dad!' he won my heart. â€
Critics ridicule Gus Walz as a 'puffy beta male'
But the show of affection provoked a series of sarcastic and nasty comments from online trolls, primarily MAGA supporters of former President Donald Trump, who is running Mike Crispi against Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris and Walz in November.
Right-wing columnist and provocative commentator Ann Coulter ridiculed the teenager’s tears. “Now that's weird, †she wrote on X. The message has since been deleted.
Mike Crispi, a Trump backer and podcaster from New Jersey, criticized Walz’s “crybaby son†Anxiety on X and added, “Congratulations on raising your son to be a blubbering beta male. Congrats.â€
Alec Lace, a Trump follower who hosts a podcast about fatherhood, took his own shot at the teenager: “Get that kid a tampon already,†he wrote, in an apparent jab
to a Minnesota law that Walz passed as governor requiring educational institutions to offer free menstrual products to students.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that Jay Weber, a conservative radio host in Milwaukee, made a post on X criticizing the Walz family. now removed.
"If the Walzs represent Children With Disabilities today's American man,