What did Tim Walz say that had his son Gus in tears at the 2024 Democratic National Convention?

On Wednesday, during the third day of the 2024 Democratic National Convention (DNC), Minnesota Governor Tim Walz accepted the nomination to become the official Democratic candidate for vice president. Held in Chicago, Illinois, the convention concludes on Thursday with Kamala Harris’s acceptance speech, officially making her the Democratic candidate for president.

Walz’s acceptance speech capped off the day’s activities, which included notable speakers such as former President Bill Clinton, Oprah Winfrey, Nancy Pelosi, Maryland Governor Wes Moore, and Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg.

“Never underestimate a public school teacher” - Tim Walz

Walz appeared on the DNC stage following a tribute to Prince, presented by John Legend and Sheila E., and the nomination speeches delivered by Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar and Benjamin C. Ingman, one of his former students.

Walz began his speech by thanking Kamala Harris for placing her trust in him and inviting him to be her running mate. He also expressed gratitude to President Joe Biden for “four years of strong and historic leadership.” Walz said it has been the honour of his life to accept the nomination.

“We are all here tonight for a beautiful and simple reason: we love this country,” he said. Walz continued his speech by discussing his upbringing in the small town of Butte, Nebraska, and reviewing his professional background, including his work as a teacher and football coach.

“Never underestimate a public school teacher,” he said. He then explained how he won a seat in Congress after a career as a teacher with no prior political experience. Walz continued with a speech that emphasised the concept of freedom and the campaign slogan: “We’re not going back.”

The crowd was quick to respond with chants of “Coach, Coach, Coach!”

Walz also highlighted Harris’s capability to reach the White House and criticized Project 2025, a plan devised by Trump allies for the next Republican administration, which Trump has since distanced himself from, but the group have claimed he’s still very much backing. He talked about preserving the freedoms of everyday Americans, something the Democrats say is in jeopardy if Trump makes it into the White House.

“Look, I coached high school football long enough to know, and believe me, when someone takes the time to draft a playbook, they intend to use it,” he said. “It’s an agenda that no one asked for. It’s an agenda that serves no one except the wealthiest and most extreme among us,” he added.

Walz concluded his speech with a motivational talk. “Our job for everyone watching us is to get into the trenches and do the blocking and tackling, one inch at a time, one yard at a time, one phone call at a time, one knock on the door at a time, one $5 donation at a time,” he said.

“There will be time to sleep when we’re dead,” he added, referencing the upcoming election on November 5. “We’ll leave it all on the field,” Walz declared.

Family connections: Gwen, Gus and Hope

Throughout the speech, the camera would turn to his wife, Gwen, and their children, Hope and Gus, with real emotion and pride being shown. “You are my entire world and I love you,” Walz said of them after getting very personal, something many across the nation will relate to.

“If you’ve never experienced the hell that is infertility, I guarantee you you know somebody who has. And I can remember praying each night for a phonecall. The pit in your stomach when the phone would ring, and the absolute agony when we heard the treatment 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.” She responded with a heart sign. 17-year-old Gus, unable to hold back the tears, stood up and mouthed, “That’s my dad!”

After finishing his speech, the governor’s family joined him on stage. The video footage of his children crying and gesturing really struck a chord with the viewing public, with many pointing to the wholesome nature of the relationships.

Walz’s acceptance of the vice-presidential nomination comes just days after agreeing to participate in a debate with J.D. Vance, the Republican vice-presidential candidate. The first vice-presidential debate is scheduled for October 1 at CBS studios in New York City.