Tim Walz Says Son Gus' Viral Moment Was 'Visceral': 'Important to Have My Son Feel a Sense of Pride in Me'

Tim Walz is reflecting on his son's reaction to his speech at the Democratic National Convention (DNC).

In his first joint interview with Kamala Harris, broadcast on CNN on Thursday, Aug. 29, the Democratic candidate for vice president, 60, was asked how he felt about his son Gus' viral moment during his speech at the DNC

Gus Walz, 17, who has a non-verbal learning disorder, ADHD and anxiety, became emotional while in the crowd watching his dad give a speech accepting the vice presidential nomination at the DNC on Wednesday, Aug. 21.

"That's my dad," Gus could be seen saying in the viral moment, clapping and cheering Tim on through tears.

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Asked to reflect on the moment by CNN's Dana Bash, Tim said, "I don't know, as a father, I could've ever imagined that," the former schoolteacher began, as seen in a clip on X (formerly Twitter).

Tim said he's "grateful for so many reasons to be on this ticket," and that the moment helped him "to understand what was really important" about being Harris' running mate.

"To have my son feel a sense of pride in me, that I was trying to do the right thing," he said.

Tim mentioned trying to "protect" his kids from the spotlight that comes with running for national office, but described what made Gus' response to his speech important.

"It was just such a visceral, emotional moment that I'm just ... I'm grateful I got to experience it," he said. "And I'm so proud of him."

"I'm proud of him, I'm proud of Hope, I'm proud of Gwen, she's a wonderful mother and these are great kids," he added, referencing his eldest child, daughter Hope Walz, and his wife, Gwen Walz.

Tim told Bash, 53, that he believes "our politics can be better, it can be different. We can show some of these things and we can have families involved in this."

"I hope people felt that out there," Tim said, referring to people watching his DNC speech. "And I hope they hugged their kids a little tighter because you just never know and life can be kinda hard."

Tim and Gwen, 58, exclusively shared a statement with PEOPLE about Gus' disabilities.

"When our youngest Gus was growing up, it became increasingly clear that he was different from his classmates," the couple said. "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," the statement continued.

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