Fact Check: Gus Walz Has ADHD, Anxiety and a Learning Disorder?

Claim:

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz’s son, Gus Walz, has ADHD, anxiety and a learning disorder.

Rating:

True ( About this rating? )

In August 2024, on the third day of the Democratic National Convention, vice-presidential candidate Tim Walz's son, Gus Walz, went viral for emotionally cheering on his father.

"Hope, Gus and Gwen. You are my entire world and I love you," the Minnesota governor said as the cameras cut to Gus standing up in tears while shouting "That's my dad!" as his father took the DNC stage in Chicago.

As the videos spread, many conservative media personalities, including Ann Coulter, mocked Gus, calling the 17-year-old "weird" in a since-deleted post on X.

However, a post went viral describing Gus as "neurodivergent" and as someone with "ADHD, anxiety, and a nonverbal learning disorder." The post defending the teen said, "Children and teens like Gus can have trouble regulating their emotions in social settings. What you saw tonight was pure love and emotion on a raw unfiltered level."

Gus does indeed have ADHD, anxiety and a nonverbal learning disorder according to a statement from his parents to People magazine in August 2024. As such we rate this claim as "True."

The Walzes said Gus' conditions were also "his secret power":

When our youngest Gus was growing up, it became increasingly clear that he was different from his classmates. Gus preferred video games and spending more time by himself.

When he was becoming a teenager, we learned that Gus has a non-verbal learning disorder in addition to an anxiety disorder and ADHD, conditions that millions of Americans also have.

Like so many American families, it took us time to figure out how to make sure we did everything we could to make sure Gus would be set up for success as he was growing up," the couple say.

It took time, but what became so immediately clear to us was that Gus' condition is not a setback — it's his secret power.

They added that Gus "is brilliant, hyper-aware of details that many of us pass by, and above all else, he's an excellent son and brother to his sibling. We love our Gus, we are proud of the man he's growing into, and we are so excited to have him with us on this journey."

"Neurodivergent," according to the Cleveland Clinic , is a nonmedical term that "describes people whose brains develop or work differently for some reason. This means the person has different strengths and struggles from people whose brains develop or work more typically. While some people who are neurodivergent have medical conditions, it also happens to people where a medical condition or diagnosis hasn't been identified."

ADHD, short for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, is a common condition among people who describe themselves as neurodivergent.  According to the Mayo Clinic it refers to a combination of persistent problems, including difficulty sustaining attention, hyperactivity and impulsive behavior.

The Mayo Clinic states:

The primary features of ADHD include inattention and hyperactive-impulsive behavior. ADHD symptoms start before age 12, and in some children, they're noticeable as early as 3 years of age. ADHD symptoms can be mild, moderate or severe, and they may continue into adulthood.

ADHD occurs more often in males than in females, and behaviors can be different in boys and girls. For example, boys may be more hyperactive and girls may tend to be quietly inattentive.

A nonverbal learning disorder, according to Cleveland Clinic, has an effect on activities that don't involve words or speech, including problem-solving, visual-spatial tasks and recognizing social cues. Such disorders are manageable with specific accommodations.

Anxiety disorders , according to the Cleveland Clinic, are "a group of mental health conditions that cause fear, dread and other symptoms that are out of proportion to the situation." These include generalized anxiety disorder, specific phobias and social anxiety disorder.

While the Walzes have chosen to reveal Gus' health information, the specificities of his anxiety and learning disorder are unknown to the public. As such, it is difficult to speculate on his symptoms and his actions in public. His emotional reaction to his father's speech is something any teen might do, whether neurodivergent or neurotypical.

Sources:

"Anxiety Disorders." Cleveland Clinic, https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9536-anxiety-disorders . Accessed 23 Aug. 2024.

"Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in Children - Symptoms and Causes." Mayo Clinic, https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/adhd/symptoms-causes/syc-20350889 . Accessed 23 Aug. 2024.

Chappell, Bill. "Gus and Tim Walz Share a Father-Son Moment That Melts Hearts of People Watching the DNC." NPR, 22 Aug. 2024. NPR, https://www.npr.org/2024/08/22/nx-s1-5086342/gus-tim-walz-father-son-dnc. " target="blank">https://www.npr.org/2024/08/22/nx-s1-5086342/gus-tim-walz-father-son-dnc.">https://www.npr.org/2024/08/22/nx-s1-5086342/gus-tim-walz-father-son-dnc. Accessed 23 Aug. 2024.

"Learning Disabilities." Cleveland Clinic, https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/4865-learning-disabilities-what-you-need-to-know . Accessed 23 Aug. 2024.

Métraux, Julia. "Guess Who's Being Weird to Tim Walz's Son." Mother Jones, https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2024/08/tim-walz-son-gus-conservative-disability-attacks-dnc/ . Accessed 23 Aug. 2024.

"Neurodivergent: What It Is, Symptoms & Types." Cleveland Clinic, https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/23154-neurodivergent . Accessed 23 Aug. 2024.

"Tim Walz and His Wife, Gwen, Open Up About Son's Non-Verbal Learning Disorder: 'His Secret Power' (Exclusive)." Peoplemag, https://people.com/gus-walz-learning-disorder-secret-power-exclusive-8691793 . Accessed 23 Aug. 2024.