A tearful, informal moment between Tim Walz and his 17-year-old son, Gus Walz, has brought an outpouring of praise and admiration ᅳ but also spurred ugly online bullying.
Gus Walz, who has a nonverbal learning disorder as well as anxiety and ADHD, watched excitedly from the front row of Chicago’s United Center and wept openly Wednesday night as his father, the Democratic vice presidential candidate, gave his acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention.
The Minnesota governor was recounting the difficult fertility treatments he and his wife, Gwen, underwent to conceive their daughter, Hope.
Walz expressed his love for his family from the stage, saying, “Hope, Gus and Gwen, you are my whole world. And I love you.”
Gus Walz jumped out of his seat, tears streaming down his face, pointed his index finger, and said, “I love you, Dad,” followed immediately by, “This is from Dad.”
The touching moment between the father and son, captured live by television cameras, quickly went viral and was well received on the Internet and airwaves.