Levi Johnston Says His Family is Not 'White Trash'2009-04-08

Levi Johnston, the 18-year-old father of Sarah Palin's grandson, also speaks about tensions with the Palins and restrictions on his private time with three-month-old son Tripp.

Johnston, the former fiancé of Sarah Palin's18-year-old daughter Bristol, was asked by CBS' Maggie Rodriguez on "The Early Show" what he thinks is the public's biggest misconception about him. "Probably that my family's white trash," he said.

Speaking about Tripp, Johnston said he does not feel the surprise birth was a mistake. "No, not at all. I wouldn't call any baby a mistake. I mean, I love him more than anything. I wouldn't trade him for the world. Tripp's everything to me. He's my little boy. I don't know what I'd do without him."

Johnston told Rodriguez that at first, Sarah Palin "treated me like a mom," but that after losing the presidential campaign with candidate John McCain, things started to go "downhill." He says now, Sarah Palin's family is denying that Johnston ever lived in their home.

"They said I didn't live there," he said. "[They say] I 'stayed' there. I was like, 'Okay, whatever you want to call it' -- I had all my stuff there. So, if you wanna call it staying there, that's fine." Rodriguez asks Johnston to elaborate, asking "So, they're lying?" "Yes," Johnston replies.

He says that while he can go over and visit Tripp any time, he is definitely treated differently now in the Palin household. "I'm not allowed to take him. It's not as comfortable -- they don't think of me the same way anymore."

Share