'That's my dad': Walz's tearful son stars in Democratic convention speech

By Stephanie Kelly

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Minnesota Governor Tim Walz's 17-year-old son leaped to his feet in tears and clapped as his father formally accepted the Democratic party's nomination for vice president on Wednesday, in an emotional moment that instantly won over social media.

Walz's son Gus jumped up as his father spoke at the Democratic National Convention, sobbing and pointing at the stage while yelling "That's my dad," in what was likely to become an enduring image from the speech.

Democratic nominee Kamala Harris' campaign is betting Walz's Midwestern credentials and what some Democrats refer to as his modern masculinity can court undecided and independent voters in the Nov. 5 election.

"Team Gus Walz," Jen Psaki, former White House press secretary for the Biden administration, wrote on social media platform X.

Walz's wife Gwen and children joined him on stage at the end of his speech, along with nearly a dozen other family members. Gus gave his father a tight hug when the speech ended.

"Hope, Gus and Gwen, you are my entire world and I love you," Walz said during the speech in Chicago.

In an interview with People magazine, he and Gwen Walz described Gus as "brilliant" and said he had a non-verbal learning disorder, ADHD and an anxiety disorder, conditions that they called his "secret power."

(Reporting by Stephanie Kelly; Editing by Heather Timmons and Deepa Babington)