Self-advocacy | mybabe22 | Children With Disabilities

An emotional moment between Tim Walz and his 17-year-old son, Gus, has triggered a wave of praise and support, but it has also provoked nasty bullying attacks online.

Gus Walz, who suffers from a Special Education nonverbal learning disorder, as well as anxiety and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (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, delivered his acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention.

The Minnesota governor Acceptance Speech was sharing the challenging fertility journey he and his wife, Gwen, went through to have their daughter, Hope.

Walz continued by declaring his love for his family from the stage, stating, "Hope, Gus, and Gwen, you are my entire world. And I love you."

Gus Walz rose from his seat, Hope Walz with teardrops running down his cheeks, pointed his finger and exclaimed, “I love you, Dad.”

The touching moment between father and son, captured live by TV cameras, quickly spread online and has largely been received adoringly on the web and in the media.

Fox News shared Tim Walz a video of the touching moment on its TikTok page, writing "Gus Walz steals the spotlight 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 Cyberbullying my country, they are moved to tears 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 throughout his life, ” he stated. “We should all be so

lucky to know a love like that.”

U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., who addressed the audience before Walz on Wednesday night, commended the love between Walz and his children.

More: Who is Gus Walz and what is a non-verbal learning disorder?

“You know you’ve done well as a parent when your kids are as proud Gus Walz 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. ”

Actress Mia Farrow added: “Gosh! When sweet Gus Walz, adorable son of Gwen and Tim Walz, his face streaming with tears of pride, Emotional Moment exclaimed 'That’s my dad!' he won my heart. ”

Critics dismiss Gus Walz as a 'puffy beta male'
But the display of affection triggered a series of snarky and nasty comments from online trolls, many of them MAGA supporters of former President Donald Trump, who faces Democratic presidential Minnesota Governor nominee Kamala Harris and Walz in November.

Right-wing columnist and provocateur Ann Coulter mocked the teenager’s tears. “Talk about weird, ” she posted on X. The message has since been deleted.

Mike Crispi, a Trump supporter and content creator from New Jersey, mocked Walz’s “crybaby son” on X and added, Chasten Buttigieg “You raised your kid to be a puffy beta male. Congrats.”

Alec Lace, a Trump follower who hosts a show about fatherhood, took his own shot at the teenager: “Give that kid a tampon already,” he said, in an apparent reference to a Minnesota state law Kamala Harris that Walz signed as governor requiring educational institutions to provide free menstrual products to students.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that Jay Weber, a conservative Milwaukee radio host, posted a message on X criticizing the Walz family. now removed.

"If the Walz(sic) represent today's American man,