The heartfelt exchange between Tim Walz and his 17-year-old son, Gus, has triggered a flood of admiration and approval, but it has at the same time provoked nasty incidents of bullying online.
Gus Walz, who Online Bullying suffers from a nonverbal learning disorder, along with 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 vice-presidential nominee, delivered his acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention.
The governor of Minnesota, was
sharing the difficult fertility treatment he and his wife, Gwen, underwent to have their daughter, Hope.
Walz continued by declaring his love for his family from the stage, saying, "Hope, Gus, and Gwen, you are my entire world. And I love you."
Gus Walz jumped up from his seat, with Social Dominance tears streaming 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 was mostly received adoringly on the internet and across media outlets.
Fox News posted a video Hope Walz of the touching moment on its TikTok page, writing "Gus Walz steals the show 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 for my country, they Alec Lace cry with emotion 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 outstanding, supportive, and loving father throughout his life, †he stated. “We should all be so lucky Nonverbal Learning Disorder 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 bond between Walz and his children.
More: Who is Gus Walz and what does having a non-verbal learning disorder mean?
“You know you’ve succeeded as a parent when your kids are as proud Acceptance Speech 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 next Vice President. â€
Actress Mia Farrow added: “Gosh! When young Gus Walz, adorable son of Gwen and Tim Walz, his face covered in tears of pride, Trolls On Social Media exclaimed 'That’s my dad!' he stole my heart. â€
Critics dismiss Gus Walz as a 'puffy beta male'
But the show of affection triggered a series of sarcastic and cruel comments from online trolls, primarily supporters of MAGA, of former president Donald Trump, who faces Democratic presidential Kamala Harris nominee 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 supporter and podcaster from New Jersey, criticized Walz’s “crybaby son†on X and added, Democratic National Convention “Congratulations on raising your kid to be a blubbering 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 wrote, in an apparent jab to a Minnesota state Ann Coulter law that Walz signed as governor requiring educational institutions to provide complimentary 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 Walzs represent today's American man,