Tim Walz's son Gus' emotional gesture during his father's DNC speech leaves Internet in awe

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS: Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Walz's son Gus Walz won over social media for his emotional response on the third night of the Democratic National Convention.

The 17-year-old stood up with tears running down his face as his father recounted the family's journey in fertility treatments. Along with his mother, Gwen Walz, and elder sister Hope Walz, Gus sobbed openly in response to his father's speech on Wednesday, August 21, night.

"That's my dad!" the emotional teenager who has a nonverbal learning disorder and ADHD said, pointing at his father.

Tim Walz shares struggle his family had with fertility treatments

"If you've never experienced the hell that is in fertility, I guarantee you, you know somebody who has. And I can remember praying each night for a phone call, the pit in your stomach when the phone had rang, and the absolute agony when we heard the treatments hadn't worked," the Minnesota governor said to the crowd, as per a video posted on X (formerly Twitter) by MSNBC.

"It took Gwen and I years, but we had access to fertility treatments. And when our daughter was born, we named her Hope," he added receiving a hand-heart gesture from his daughter, who was on the verge of tears.

Meanwhile, Gus' emotion peaked as his father said, "Hope, Gus, and Gwen, you are my entire world, and I love you," prompting him to jump up, sobbing and applauding as the crowd cheered.

"I'm letting you in on how we started a family because this is a big part of what this election is about. Freedom!" Tim stated.

Tim and Gwen married in 1994 and welcomed their daughter Hope in 2001 after struggling with infertility for seven years. The couple underwent fertility treatment at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester before welcoming Hope, as per ABC Chicago.

Recently, Gwen revealed that she conceived their daughter through intrauterine insemination or IUI. Vice President Kamala Harris' campaign also emphasized the Minnesota governor's fertility treatment journey in the running mate announcement writing, linking it with his commitment to ensuring Americans access to treatment like in vitro fertilization (IVF).

Who is Gus Walz?

Gus, the second child of Tim and Gwen, born in 2006, is a neurodivergent teenager who has ADHD and a non-verbal learning disorder along with an anxiety disorder.

The 17-year-old's parents opened up about their son's condition in a recent statement to People, calling it his "secret power."

Tim and Gwen told the magazine that they noted that Gus differed from his classmates at the early stage of his growth, noting he preferred spending time alone with video games.

"When he was becoming a teenager, we learned that Gus has a non-verbal learning disorder in addition to an anxiety disorder and ADHD, conditions that millions of Americans also have," the couple's statement read.

"Like so many American families, it took us time to figure out how to make sure we did everything we could to make sure Gus would be set up for success as he was growing up."

Tim and Gwen acknowledged that what Gus had was not a "setback" but instead a "secret power."

Nonverbal learning disorders could affect a child's ability to understand and utilize information, as per the Cleveland Clinic. Nevertheless, the condition is manageable using different learning methods.

Gus Walz's gesture during Tim Walz's DNC speech turns Internet emotional

Netizens were in awe watching Gus Walz turning emotional as his father declared his love for the family during the DNC speech. Many noted that the teenager's tears indicated the quality of the VP nominee as a father and a human being.

"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," a user said.

"Forget politics. If you aren't moved seeing 17yr old Gus Walz in tears watching his Dad walk on stage as the Vice Presidential nominee.... then please just move on," another user remarked.

"I'm not crying, you are The emotion and pride Gus Walz displays tells us not only the kind of dad Tim Walz is, but also the quality of human being. The difference between Kamala Harris and Tim Walz — and Trump and JD Vance could not be more pronounced," added a third user.

"Gus Walz is all of us! I'm not crying. You're crying "I love you." That's my dad." How proud!! My heart melted, and yes, I was crying, too," read a fourth response.

"I’m literally going to bed half quietly sobbing thinking about Gus Walz’s “That’s my Dad.” You can feel deep in your bones this man is just an incredibly decent and loving human being," an individual wrote.

"Tonight at the DNC has been a bit of a tear jerker at times. Watching Tim Walz's son Gus jump up during the acceptance speech, point to the stage and yell "THAT'S MY DAD!!" is just... I can't. Wow," someone else added.

"As a father of a child on the spectrum... If I'm ever in a situation where my son looks at me like Gus Walz looks at his father, I'll know one thing... I've done my job and I can die in peace," another said.

"Seeing Gus cry freely in public, proud of his dad and swept up in the emotion of the night, tells me all I need to know about what kind of man Tim Walz is: A nontoxic one. He's got my vote," read one response.

 

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