A heartwarming moment between Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and his 17-year-old son, Gus, during the Democratic National Convention, has captured the nation’s attention. However, it also exposed the darker side of social media, as the touching exchange sparked both widespread admiration and vicious online bullying.
On Wednesday night, as Tim Walz, the Democratic nominee for vice president, delivered his acceptance speech at Chicago’s United Center, his son Gus sat in the front row, watching with pride. Gus, who has a nonverbal learning disorder, anxiety, and ADHD, was visibly moved as his father recounted the emotional journey he and his wife, Gwen, underwent to conceive their daughter, Hope.
During the speech, Walz expressed his deep love for his family, declaring, “Hope, Gus and Gwen, you are my entire world. And I love you.” This heartfelt declaration brought Gus to his feet, tears streaming down his face. With a trembling voice, he pointed to his father and said, “I love you, Dad,” followed by an exuberant, “That’s my dad!”
The moment, captured live by television cameras, quickly went viral. Social media platforms lit up with praise for the Walz family, with many touched by the raw emotion displayed. Fox News shared the clip on TikTok, captioning it, “Gus Walz steals show during dad’s acceptance speech,” where it received overwhelmingly positive feedback.
Prominent figures also chimed in with their support. Chasten Buttigieg, the husband of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, wrote on X, “I hope to inspire my kids so much that when they see me speak of the dreams and passion I have for my country they are moved to tears like Gus Walz was.” U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar praised the love between Walz and his children, stating, “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. ‘That’s my dad.’ No three words better describe our next Vice President.”
Even actress Mia Farrow joined in, tweeting, “Gosh! When young Gus Walz, adorable son of Gwen and Tim Walz, his face streaming tears of pride, shouted ‘That’s my dad,’ he won my heart.”
However, this touching moment also became a target for online trolls. Conservative columnist Ann Coulter mocked Gus’s tears, though her post was later deleted. Right-wing podcaster Mike Crispi and others took cruel jabs at the teenager, with Crispi deriding Gus as a “puffy beta male.” Alec Lace, a podcast host, made an even more offensive remark, referencing a Minnesota state law Walz signed that provides free menstrual supplies in schools, writing, “Get that kid a tampon already.”
The backlash continued with conservative Milwaukee radio host Jay Weber, who posted a derogatory comment about the Walz family before deleting it and apologizing, claiming ignorance of Gus’s learning disability.
Despite the negativity, the Walz campaign chose not to comment on the online bullying. Instead, they remained focused on the positive outpouring of support and the powerful message of love and family that resonated with so many viewers.
The incident echoes past controversies, such as when Donald Trump faced criticism in 2015 for appearing to mock a reporter with a disability. Critics have pointed out that such behavior can embolden others to engage in similar, harmful actions.
As the election season progresses, this poignant moment between Tim Walz and his son Gus will likely be remembered as a testament to the strength of family bonds—despite the cruel backlash it provoked.