Gus Walz sat in the front row for the biggest moment of his father's life, and his pride exploded out of him.
鈥淭hat's my dad!鈥� the 17-year-old could be seen saying. He stood, tears streaming down his face, and pointed to his father, , the governor of Minnesota, who was in a speech to thousands of people in a packed arena and millions more watching at home.
The teen's exuberance captured hearts and went viral, becoming perhaps the defining image of his father's address and further humanizing a running mate picked by Vice President Kamala Harris in no small part for his everyman appeal.
Gus wept through much of his father's speech, and when it was over, climbed on stage with his family and wrapped his dad in a tight bear hug, burying his face in his shoulder.
The moment was still causing such a stir nearly 24 hours later that, when organizers played 鈥淏orn in the U.S.A.鈥� during Thursday night's program, Gus was shown on the arena's large screens dancing as his father and other family members sang along.
Gus is a high school senior. His parents recently disclosed to People magazine he has a non-verbal learning disorder, ADHD and an anxiety disorder. But they called his condition 鈥渉is secret power鈥� and said he鈥檚 鈥渂rilliant鈥� and poised for success. He got his driver鈥檚 license last fall.
When Tim Walz was elected governor, Gus cheered because it meant he could get a dog. They adopted a black lab named Scout a few months later.
Gus Walz is getting his own turn in the spotlight after his older sister, 23-year-old Hope Walz, delighted Americans with the videos she filmed with their dad.
Tim Walz talks often about the fertility treatments his wife, Gwen, underwent to get pregnant with Hope, a journey he says inspired her name. As he told the story Wednesday, Hope made a heart with her hands and held it over her chest.
鈥淗ope, Gus and Gwen,鈥� Walz said to his family, 鈥測ou are my entire world, and I love you.鈥�
Jonathan J. Cooper, The Associated Press
