Wednesday night was to be Tim Walz’s night at the Democratic National Convention.
And in most ways, it was. By design — he accepted his party’s nomination as vice president, after all. His speech was roundly praised, even on Fox News. And he wasn’t the only draw. Former President Bill Clinton spoke, as did former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Oprah Winfrey gave Michelle Obama a run for her money in the stand-up-and-cheer speech department. John Legend and Sheila E. played a blazing Prince tribute to help introduce Walz, the governor of Minnesota.
But for a few seconds, none of that mattered.
Gus Walz did.
Who is Tim Walz’s son?
During Walz’s speech, he talked about the struggle he and his wife faced in trying to start a family. He turned to the box where his family was sitting. “Hope, Gus and Gwen, you are my entire world,” he said. “And I love you.”
TV cameras swung to the family, as they are wont to do in times like this. Hope, weeping, made a heart symbol with her hands. But when the camera panned to Gus, he stood, bawling — happy, proud tears, mouthing, “That’s my dad! That’s my dad!”
It was, for lack of a better word, beautiful.
Gus, 17, has a nonverbal learning disorder and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Walz has spoken about the importance of not trying to change him, but to help him enjoy his life. And in this moment, he was enjoying it fully.
When the speech ended and networks began to dissect it, Gus was one of the first things all of them talked about. On Fox News, Martha MacCallum and Dana Perino both talked about how moving the moment was.
Gus Walz transcended politics
“I love Gus Walz,” Jen Psaki, an MSNBC host and former White House press secretary, said. “I’m going to start ugly crying just talking about him.”
Dana Bash, on CNN, said, “That is the clip-and-save moment that everyone is going to be seeing. If you didn’t get moved by that moment, I don’t even know. What a remarkable moment just in American life.”
On X, MSNBC host Stephanie Ruhle was moved even before the big moment, posting, “Forget politics. If you aren’t moved seeing 17 yr old Gus Walz in tears watching his Dad walk on stage as the Vice Presidential nominee. … then please just move on.”
Eventually, everyone did. It was back to political theater. JD Vance, the Republican vice presidential candidate, made the rounds of Fox News and CNN. Politics as usual.
But for a moment, it was something more. It was a son so proud of his dad, and a dad so proud of his son. Too bad it had to end.
The convention wraps up Thursday, with Kamala Harris accepting the party’s nomination as its presidential candidate. It’s what the entire convention has built toward. But it will be hard to top Gus on Wednesday night.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: MSNBC to Fox News: How Tim Walz’s son stopped TV news in its tracks
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