Trump FEMA chief makes bizarre claim, says he ‘teleported’ to a Georgia Waffle House

A senior disaster-response chief in the administration of President Donald Trump has come under scrutiny after resurfaced recordings showed him claiming he once teleported to a Waffle House in Georgia.

Gregg Phillips, appointed in December to head the Office of Response and Recovery at FEMA, has faced mounting questions about his past rhetoric, including assertions that he was involuntarily transported miles from his location and comments endorsing various conspiracy theories. 

Phillips’ tenure began only weeks before a series of severe winter storms tested the agency's capacity. His highly visible role during the crisis, often beside Kristi Noem in the emergency command centre, surprised some career officials who initially doubted his qualifications and temperament.

Claims of teleportation

Phillips’ remarks emerged from multiple podcast appearances, including episodes of Onward, co-hosted by conservative commentator Catherine Engelbrecht.

In these interviews, he recounted what he described as episodes of physical teleportation, “I was with my boys one time and I was telling them I was gonna go to Waffle House and get Waffle House. 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.”

“Teleporting is no fun,” he said in another appearance. “It was real.”

He further described the experience as “scary” and “an incredibly frightening moment,” maintaining that the events had occurred more than once.

History of conspiracy rhetoric

Before joining the federal agency, Phillips built a substantial following in far-right circles by pushing unsubstantiated claims of mass voter fraud. He was prominently involved with True the Vote and later featured in the documentary 2000 Mules, which was ultimately withdrawn by Salem Media Group after a defamation settlement.

His past online activity included frequent attacks on political opponents and allegations that social-media platforms suppressed his posts. CNN’s review of deleted posts and podcast recordings showed repeated use of violent language, including one remark directed at Joe Biden, ”I would like to punch that b*tch in the mouth right now… He is a nasty, shitty, crappy human being, and he deserves to die. And I hope he does.”

Phillips has also promoted the notion that migrants and foreign actors were preparing acts of violence against Americans, saying in one episode, “They’ve come here to kill you… They’re here at war.”

Reaction inside FEMA

Phillips’ arrival caused anxiety among long-serving staff, given his lack of major federal-level emergency-management experience. Several officials told CNN they initially questioned whether he was prepared for one of FEMA’s most consequential positions, which oversees search-and-rescue operations, emergency aid and billions in federal assistance.

However, some said their views softened after watching his involvement during the January storms.

A FEMA spokesperson dismissed concerns raised by CNN’s reporting, saying many comments were taken out of context and stemmed from “personal, informal, jovial, and somewhat spiritual discussions… in a private capacity prior to his current role.”

Background and career

Phillips previously held senior roles in state government, including serving as deputy commissioner at Texas Health and Human Services and leading Mississippi’s Department of Human Services. He also founded a healthcare analytics company.

His appointment to FEMA came amid a sweeping internal shake-up driven by DHS Secretary Noem and her then-deputy Corey Lewandowski, following controversies over management and spending within the department.

Ongoing scrutiny

Phillips is scheduled to appear before the House Homeland Security Committee next week in a hearing concerning the impacts of the DHS shutdown.

Interest in his background has intensified following the teleportation claims and his earlier statements alleging a “Chinese army” at the US border, criticising FEMA’s response to Hurricane Helene, and accusing the agency of prioritising “DEI woke” agendas.