‘That’s my dad!’: Tearful Gus Walz steals show as Tim Walz accepts VP nom

Tim Walz's 17-year-old son unexpectedly stole the spotlight on Day 3 of the Democratic National Convention when his emotional reaction to his father’s speech went viral.

“That’s my dad!” Gus Walz shouted, tears streaming down his face, as he pointed towards his father on stage.

The heartfelt moment occurred midway through Tim’s speech, during which he accepted the vice-presidential nomination. The Minnesota governor spoke about his family and the journey he and his wife, Gwen, went through to have their first child, who is now 23 years old.

“It took Gwen and me years, but we had access to fertility treatments. And when our daughter was born, we named her Hope,” he said.

“Hope, Gus, and Gwen, you are my entire world, and I love you,” Tim said, leading Gus to leap to his feet, clapping and overcome with emotion.

Gus, visibly moved throughout his father’s speech, joined his family on stage afterward, embracing his father in a tight bear hug and burying his face in his dad’s shoulder. The teenager’s exuberance captured the hearts of not only those in the United Center but also people online.

“Tim Walz’s son just ripped my heart RIGHT OUT OF MY CHEST,” one user excitedly posted on X (formerly Twitter).

“Tim Walz could’ve given a Gettysburg-level oration, and all people would remember is his son tearfully shouting ‘That’s my dad!’” commented Bill Grueskin, academic dean at Columbia Journalism School.

Tim and Gwen Walz recently shared with People magazine that their son Gus has a non-verbal learning disorder, ADHD, and an anxiety disorder. Having a non-verbal learning disorder doesn’t mean Gus is non-verbal; in fact, it can be quite the opposite. People with this condition often have no trouble understanding language, but grasping relationships, concepts, and patterns can be more challenging.

“Like so many American families, it took us time to figure out how to do everything we could to ensure Gus would be set up for success as he grew up,” the Walzes told People. “It took time, but what became so immediately clear to us was that Gus’s condition is not a setback—it’s his secret power.”

Gus, a high school senior who recently got his driver’s license last fall, provided a “(p)roud dad moment” for Tim, who shared the milestone on Instagram.

For many viewers, seeing a neurodivergent teenager take center stage at the DNC was particularly touching.

“I don’t cry easily, but as the dad of a teenage son with autism, ADHD & anxiety issues, watching Tim Walz’s 17-year-old son… just gutted me,” entertainment journalist Rick Ellis wrote in a viral X post.

Earlier in his speech, Tim Walz described accepting the vice-presidential nomination as “the honor of my life.”

The Minnesota governor, who grew up in a small town with “a population of 400 people,” shared a personal jab at his vice-presidential opponent, J.D. Vance, Donald Trump’s running mate, who attended Yale. “I had 24 kids in my high school class. And none of them went to Yale,” Tim noted.

“In a small town like that, you learn how to take care of each other. That family down the road, they may not think like you do, they may not pray like you do, they may not love like you do, but they’re your neighbors. And you look out for them, and they look out for you. Everybody belongs,” Tim continued, echoing the theme of unity in diversity that dominated this year’s DNC.

On the topic of reproductive rights, Walz stated, “In Minnesota, we respect our neighbors and the personal choices they make. And even if we wouldn’t make those same choices for ourselves, we’ve got a golden rule: ‘Mind your own damn business.’”

Former President Barack Obama, speaking on the second day of the DNC, expressed his admiration for Tim, saying, “I love this guy.”

“Tim is the kind of person who should be in politics. Born in a small town, served his country, taught kids, coached football, he knows who he is,” Obama said. “You can tell those flannel shirts he wears don’t come from some political consultant. They come from his closet, and they have been through some stuff.”

Political commentators have noted Walz’s “everyman” appeal and down-to-earth charm, which serve as a contrast to Kamala Harris, who began her political career as a high-powered lawyer from California. This viral moment from the DNC may further solidify Walz’s relatable brand.