By Mary Jones | Friday, August 23, 2024 | 3 min read
Michelle Obama has a message for those mocking Gus Walz, the son of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, for his emotional reaction at the Democratic National Convention (DNC). In a heartfelt statement, the former First Lady expressed her support for Gus and emphasized the importance of showing vulnerability and emotion, especially during such impactful moments.
“Being open and emotional is a sign of strength, not weakness,” Michelle Obama said. “Gus’s reaction was genuine, and it’s something we should all respect. In times like these, empathy and kindness matter more than ever.”
Michelle Obama Praises Tim Walz’s Son Gus After Viral DNC Moment
Her words were a powerful reminder to rise above online negativity and celebrate authenticity, no matter the setting.
However, it seems that conservative commentators Ann Coulter and Dinesh D’Souza missed Michelle Obama’s message of empathy, as they launched attacks on Gus Walz, the son of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, for his emotional display at the Democratic National Convention (DNC). Their criticisms, shared on social media, sparked backlash from supporters who rallied around Gus, emphasizing the importance of compassion and understanding, especially when it comes to someone showing vulnerability.
Dinesh D’Souza, a conservative figure pardoned by the former president after a campaign finance conviction, reposted a video of Tim Walz’s son, Gus, crying during the governor’s speech.
“This kid might have mental problems, but he’s acting just like Tim Walz! So what’s Walz’s excuse?” D’Souza wrote. When a user asked him to stop attacking Walz’s kids, D’Souza denied the accusation, responding, “I’m not.”
As of Wednesday night, D’Souza’s posts remained online.
Jay Weber, a conservative radio host from Milwaukee, called the moment “embarrassing for both father and son,” according to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. However, Weber later deleted the tweet after learning that Gus has special needs.
Despite their harsh words, many have continued to stand in solidarity with Gus, echoing Michelle Obama’s sentiment that expressing emotion is a sign of strength, not weakness. The incident has ignited a broader conversation about online bullying and the need for greater empathy in political discourse.
“This is actually really sweet,” wrote Ben Shapiro, founding editor of the conservative site The Daily Wire.
Matt Walsh, another Daily Wire commentator, also defended Gus. “Attacking a kid for loving his dad is the dumbest move I’ve seen by right wingers on this site in a while,” he wrote in response to the video.
Ana Navarro, a centrist Republican commentator covering the DNC for CNN, shared that she had brunch with Gwen Walz, the governor’s wife and Gus’s mother, the morning after the video went viral.
“You could see the emotion she felt about the attacks on her teenage son, who has special needs,” Navarro said during a CNN panel.
“There are many Republicans, many Trump Republicans, attacking a kid who had a beautiful moment of authentic pride and love for his father and got emotional,” she added.
