Wednesday night was supposed to be Tim Walz’s night at the Democratic National Convention.
And in many ways, he was. It was on purpose: He had accepted his party’s nomination for vice president, after all. His speech was widely praised, even on Fox News. And he wasn’t the only one drawing crowds. 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 pep talk department. John Legend and Sheila E. gave a fiery tribute to Prince to help introduce Walz, the Minnesota governor.
But for a few seconds, none of that mattered.
Gus Walz did it.
Who is Tim Walz’s son?
During his speech, Walz spoke about the challenges he and his wife faced in starting a family. He turned to the box where his family sat. “Hope, Gus and Gwen, you are my whole world,” he said. “And I love you.”
The television cameras panned to the family, as they usually do at times like this. Hope, in tears, made a heart sign with her hands. But when the camera panned to Gus, he stood up, crying—tears of joy and pride, mouthing, “That’s my dad! That’s my dad!”
It was, for lack of a better word, magnificent.
Gus, 17, has a nonverbal learning disability and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Walz talked about the importance of not trying to change him, but helping him enjoy life. And at that moment, he was enjoying it to the fullest.
When the speech ended and the networks began to dissect it, Gus was one of the first topics of discussion. On Fox News, Martha MacCallum and Dana Perino both spoke about the emotion of the moment.
Gus Walz transcended politics
“I love Gus Walz,” said Jen Psaki, an MSNBC anchor and former White House press secretary. “I’m going to cry just talking about him.”
Dana Bash, on CNN, said: “This is the moment where everybody is going to see the clip and save it. If you weren’t moved by that moment, I don’t even know. What a remarkable moment in American life.”
On X, MSNBC anchor Stephanie Ruhle was emotional before the big moment, writing: “Forget politics. If you’re not moved by 17-year-old Gus Walz in tears watching his father take the stage as the vice presidential candidate…then please move on.”
Eventually, everyone did. Back to political theater. JD Vance, the Republican vice presidential nominee, made the rounds on Fox News and CNN. Politics as usual.
But for a moment, he was something more. He was a son so proud of his father, and a father so proud of his son. Too bad it had to end.
The convention ends Thursday, with Kamala Harris accepting the party’s nomination for president. That’s what the entire convention is building toward. But it’ll be hard to top Gus on Wednesday night.
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Contact Goodykoontz at bill.goodykoontz@arizonarepublic.com.Facebook: facebook.com/GoodyOnFilm.X: @goodyk. Subscribe to the weekly movie newsletter.
This article was originally published on Arizona Republic: MSNBC to Fox News: How Tim Walz’s son brought TV news to a grinding halt
