Top FEMA Official's Bizarre Teleportation Claims to Georgia Waffle House
A senior official at the United States Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has made extraordinary claims about being teleported against his will to a Waffle House restaurant, according to recent reports. Gregg Phillips, who was appointed in December to lead FEMA's office of response and recovery, discussed these experiences on multiple podcast appearances, detailing what he describes as involuntary transportation over significant distances.
Unusual Podcast Revelations from Disaster Response Leader
During a January 2025 podcast appearance on "Onward," co-hosted by right-wing activist Catherine Engelbrecht, Phillips recounted two separate teleportation incidents. He claimed that while driving, his vehicle was "lifted up" and transported approximately 40 miles (65 kilometers) away, ultimately landing in a ditch near a church. In another instance detailed during the same episode, Phillips asserted he was teleported about 50 miles to a Waffle House location in Rome, Georgia.
"I was with my boys one time, and I was telling them I was gonna go to Waffle House and get Waffle House," Phillips explained on the podcast. "And I ended up at a Waffle House – this was in Georgia, and I end up at a Waffle House like 50 miles away from where I was."
Phillips described the confusion that followed, with his companions questioning how he could have traveled such a distance so quickly. Despite acknowledging the implausibility of his story, Phillips insisted: "But it was possible. It was real."
Warnings About Teleportation and Broader Controversial Statements
The FEMA official did offer some cautionary notes about his alleged experiences, stating: "Teleporting is no fun. You know it's happening, but you can't do anything about it, and so you just go, you just go with the ride. And wow, what just an incredible adventure it all was."
These teleportation claims represent just part of Phillips' controversial public statements. On other podcast appearances, the official has suggested that both COVID-19 and its corresponding vaccine were deliberately designed to kill people. Additionally, Phillips has claimed that Department of Homeland Security officials were "planning the next assassination attempt" against former President Donald Trump following an unsuccessful attempt on Trump's life in 2024.
FEMA's Response and the Significance of Waffle House
When contacted by CNN about Phillips' statements, FEMA dismissed inquiries as "so silly it's barely worth acknowledging." The agency provided a statement clarifying: "DHS, FEMA, and Mr Phillips are focused on the critical mission of emergency management and ensuring the safety of the American people. Many of the comments cited are taken out of context or represent personal, informal, jovial, and somewhat spiritual discussions made in the context of barely surviving cancer; in a private capacity prior to his current role."
The Waffle House chain mentioned in Phillips' claims holds particular significance in emergency management circles. Craig Fugate, who led FEMA under President Barack Obama, once noted that Waffle House operations can serve as an indicator of disaster severity. "If you get there and the Waffle House is closed," Fugate observed, "That's really bad. That's where you go to work." The diner chain is renowned for remaining open 24 hours daily throughout the year.
Phillips' Role and Background Considerations
As director of FEMA's office of response and recovery – the agency's largest division – Phillips holds substantial responsibility for making recommendations about federal disaster declarations and determining when federal aid is necessary. His appointment and subsequent controversial statements have drawn attention given FEMA's crucial role as the United States' primary disaster response and preparedness agency, which operates under the Department of Homeland Security.
Phillips' background includes associations with far-right conspiracy theories prior to his government appointment. The convergence of his unconventional personal claims with his professional responsibilities in emergency management has generated both concern and skepticism among observers of federal disaster response operations.
