At the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Thursday, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz’s heartfelt speech resonated deeply with the audience, particularly with his family members present, including his 17-year-old son, Gus.
As Walz accepted the Democratic vice presidential nomination, the emotional weight of his words visibly impacted his family. Posts on social media, including a poignant clip shared on X, formerly Twitter, captured Gus Walz in tears beside his mother, Gwen, as he clapped and cheered for his father.
In his speech, Walz shared intimate details about his family’s struggle with infertility, a topic he has been open about. “In Minnesota, we respect our neighbors and the personal choices they make, and even if we wouldn’t make those same choices for ourselves, we’ve got a golden rule: mine your own damn business,” Walz said.

He continued, “That includes IVF and fertility treatments, and this is personal for Gwen and I. If you’ve never experienced the hell that is infertility, I guarantee you know somebody who has, and I can remember praying each night for a phone call, the pit in your stomach when the phone would ring, and the absolute agony when we heard treatments hadn’t worked. It took Gwen and I years, but we had access to fertility treatments, and when our daughter was born, we named her Hope.”
During the speech, Walz addressed his family directly, saying, “Hope, Gus, and Gwen, you are my entire world, and I love you.” This declaration elicited a particularly emotional response from Gus, who pointed to his father and exclaimed, “That’s my dad!”

Hope Walz, 23, was also present, capturing the moment on camera as the family later joined Walz on stage for hugs and celebration. Walz’s personal story and his references to his family’s challenges with infertility struck a chord with many, particularly on social media.
The Governor’s speech also included a nostalgic nod to his past as a teacher and coach. “There will be time to sleep when you are dead. We are going to leave it on the field. That is how we will keep moving forward,” he concluded, connecting his past experiences to his current political journey.