Who is Gus Walz? He is the son of Tim Walz, and his emotional reaction at the DNC captured widespread attention online; he also has a learning disorder.
Gus Walz, the son of Tim Walz, Kamala Harris' running mate, gained widespread attention online as netizens praised him and his family for their heartfelt support of the Minnesota Governor during his emotional speech at the Democratic National Convention on Wednesday.
After taking the stage, Governor Tim Walz expressed his deep love for his family, saying, "You are my whole world." He also opened up about the infertility struggles he and his wife, Gwen, faced, sharing with the audience the challenges they endured in conceiving their two children, Hope and Gus.
Moved by his father's heartfelt remarks, Gus leaped out of his seat, pointing to the stage and proudly declaring, "That's my dad." As the 17-year-old was overcome with emotion and burst into tears, his 23-year-old sister, Hope, was seen making a heart gesture with her hands.
Netizens were quick to praise the Walz family for their public display of emotion, with many on X (formerly Twitter) applauding their authenticity and saying, "This is what real parenting looks like."
One user even took a swipe at Donald Trump, commenting, "Can you imagine Melania and the rest showing that much genuine affection for Donald? The Walz family are just ordinary, down-to-earth people."
Here's everything you need to know about Gus Walz and his journey with a learning disorder.
Governor Tim Walz has been open about the challenges faced by his 17-year-old son, Gus, who has ADHD, a non-verbal learning disability, and an anxiety disorder.
ADHD, a brain development disorder, is characterized by difficulty with impulse control, hyperactivity, and challenges in maintaining focus.
In a statement to People magazine, Walz and his wife, Gwen, emphasized that they never viewed Gus's conditions as barriers. "Like many American families, it took us time to figure out how to ensure Gus was set up for success as he grew up," they shared.
The couple also expressed that Gus's condition is "not a setback" but rather "his secret power." Gus enjoys playing video games and prefers spending time on his own.
The Walz family's openness about their son's challenges and their willingness to share their story publicly is expected to bring much-needed awareness to others facing similar difficulties, according to advocates for Americans with learning disabilities, reported USA Today.
Zoe Gross, director of advocacy for the Washington-based Autistic Self Advocacy Network, commented, "It's encouraging when political figures are comfortable discussing disability issues and don't treat them as taboo subjects." She emphasized that this kind of transparency could inspire more people to share their own experiences with disabilities or discuss their families' challenges.
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