Michelle Obama praises Gus Walz’s reaction to dad’s speech swipes at critics after Ann Coulter mocked teen
Michelle Obama has jumped to praise Tim Walz’s teenage son for his emotional reaction to his dad’s Democratic National Convention speech and taken a swipe at critics after firebrand conservative commentator Ann Coulter cruelly called him “weird.”
During Walz’s rousing acceptance speech for the vice presidential nomination on Wednesday night, Gus Walz proudly leaped to his feet, tears streaming down his face and shouted: “That’s my Dad!”
While most viewers and political pundits found the moment heartwarming, right-wing media pundit Coulter shared a news article about the teen’s reaction on X and captioned the post: “Talk about weird…”
Coulter, who was seemingly parroting the “weird” epithet that Walz branded Donald Trump and his running mate JD Vance with back in July, later deleted the post following a swathe of backlash online.
Asked why she deleted the post, she replied on X: “I took it down as soon as someone told me he’s austistc [sic], but it’s Democrats who go around calling everyone weird thinking it’s hilariously funny.”
Later, Michelle Obama, who herself delivered an electrifying speech at the DNC on Tuesday eviscerating Donald Trump, took to X to defend the teen and hit out at anyone “making fun or mocking” the 17-year-old.
“I was touched to see Gus Walz’s joy when his dad @Tim_Walz took the stage last night. Thankful for you showing us all what real love looks like, Gus,” Obama said as the DNC’s fourth and final day wrapped up on Thursday evening.
“Let’s be a nation that embraces this kind of warmth and vulnerability, instead of making fun or mocking it. We could all use some of Gus’s example in our own lives.”
Other figures also hit out at Coulter directly for her attack on Gus, who has a non-verbal learning