Bristol Palin, 35, posted a heartwarming photo on Thursday with her three children, including son Tripp, 17, who visited her in Texas. The reality star, originally from Wasilla, Alaska, looked stylish in a sheer white dress with black polka dots, paired with sandals and sunglasses, as she posed with Tripp and daughters Sailor Grace, 10, and Atlee Bay, nine, on a spring day.
Family Reunion After Two Years
Tripp's visit marks a reunion about two years after he left the family home in Austin, Texas, to live with his father, Levi Johnston, in Alaska. Palin, who has been candid about her ongoing battle with facial paralysis, wore her brown hair down and parted in the social media post.
In the shot shared with her more than 538,000 followers, Tripp donned a black polo shirt and sunglasses, while Sailor and Atlee wore dresses, with a mountain visible in the background. The Daily Mail has reached out to Bristol for further details on the family reunion.
Heartache Over Tripp's Move
Palin opened up on Instagram in 2024 about the heartache she endured when Tripp moved north to live with his father. 'As hard as it has been to come to this decision – it’s truly not about what I want,' the daughter of former Alaska governor and 2008 vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin said. She acknowledged that her son was growing older and that his relationship with his father was important. 'He’s almost 16-years-old and that relationship with his dad is a lot more important than my own selfish desires of having him with his mama forever!' Palin said.
The Dancing With the Stars alum admitted she was still highly emotional about the situation, hoping for a smooth transition. 'I can’t talk about it yet without crying, but selfishly praying for a quick year and easy transition for us,' she said.
Tripp's Future Plans
Last year, Palin discussed her eldest child's educational future during a Q&A with followers. When asked if Tripp wants to attend college, she replied, 'I’d never push college.' She revealed that Tripp 'already works actually' and 'wants to work' as soon as possible after high school, with an eye on the real estate business she is active in. 'He’ll go into a trade and will have his hand in some sort of real estate/development I’m sure!' Palin said.
Facial Paralysis Battle
In March, Palin took to social media to update fans on her continuing treatment for facial paralysis. She said a consultation with a plastic surgeon in Austin went well, explaining a specific issue near her right eye. 'When I smile or when I’m expressive, it closes,' she said. 'I don’t really care about my crooked mouth, but my eye… so embarrassing to me - I feel like I should wear an eyepatch or something.' She added, 'It looks crazy, and I just feel like I can’t even smile because it just closes.'
Public Life and Controversies
Bristol was thrust into the national limelight in 2008 during her mother Sarah's vice presidential campaign alongside Republican candidate John McCain. She appeared at the Republican National Convention in September 2008 with Johnston, as her pregnancy with Tripp at age 17 made headlines. Her relationship with Johnston remained in the public eye amid two engagements before they eventually split.
In 2009, Bristol signed on as an abstinence ambassador for The Candie's Foundation, a teen pregnancy prevention organization, for $262,500. She said on Good Morning America, 'Abstinence is the only way you can effectively 100 percent prevent pregnancy. It's the safest choice and it will prevent teen pregnancy and a lot of heartache.'
In her 2011 book Not Afraid of My Life, Bristol called Levi a 'gnat' who 'stole her virginity' after she had been drinking. She later clarified she was not accusing him of date rape, saying, 'I'm looking back with adult eyes and thinking, that was a foolish decision. I should never have been underage drinking, and I should never have gotten myself into a situation like that.'
Johnston responded by requesting public hearings, citing concerns about Sarah Palin's influence. He said, 'Not that Bristol would be that way, nor would I. But her mother is powerful, politically ambitious, and has a reputation for being extremely vindictive.' In 2013, Johnston filed for joint custody of Tripp, after Bristol had full custody. Bristol argued the move was to impact child support payments, as he was $66,000 behind. She later took him to court, claiming he was unfit to parent.
In 2015, Bristol announced her engagement to Dakota Meyer, a Medal of Honor recipient. They married in 2016 but Meyer filed for divorce in 2018. Besides Dancing With the Stars, Bristol appeared on Lifetime's Life's a Tripp and MTV's Teen Mom OG in 2018.
