FEMA Official Claims He Teleported to Georgia Waffle House, But No One Saw It

Gregg Phillips, who leads FEMA's Office of Response and Recovery, said he teleported 50 miles to a Waffle House in Rome, Georgia, but employees and regulars say they never saw him.

Apr. 4, 2026 at 10:33pm

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A senior official with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) named Gregg Phillips claimed he teleported 50 miles to a Waffle House in Rome, Georgia, but nobody can back up his story. The New York Times interviewed about two dozen Waffle House employees and regulars across the three locations in Rome, and they all said they were unaware of anyone traveling to the restaurants by paranormal means.

Why it matters

Phillips' bizarre claim about teleportation is part of a pattern of outlandish, far-right and violent rhetoric that has raised concerns about his leadership role at FEMA, which is responsible for disaster response and recovery efforts. The fact that no one at the Waffle House locations could corroborate his story further undermines his credibility.

The details

In a now-deleted podcast episode from January 2025, Phillips said he was involved in multiple incidents of teleportation, including one where he 'ended up at a Waffle House, like 50 miles away from where I was.' After the initial CNN report on his history of controversial statements, Phillips doubled down on the Waffle House claim, citing Biblical miracles. However, the New York Times found that none of the Waffle House employees or regulars they interviewed had seen anyone teleporting into the restaurants.

  • In January 2025, Phillips made the claim about teleporting to a Waffle House in a podcast episode.
  • On March 28, 2026, Phillips posted about his teleportation experiences on Truth Social, citing the Bible.
  • On April 3, 2026, The New York Times published a report interviewing Waffle House employees and regulars who said they never saw Phillips teleport to their locations.

The players

Gregg Phillips

A senior official with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) who leads the agency's Office of Response and Recovery. Phillips has a history of making outlandish, far-right and violent claims, including his assertion that he teleported to a Waffle House in Georgia.

Shastoni Burge

A longtime server at a Waffle House location in Rome, Georgia, who told The New York Times that she has 'seen it all' but has never seen anyone teleport to the restaurant.

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What they’re saying

“I've seen it all, but I've never seen that.”

— Shastoni Burge, Waffle House server

“The Bible calls it transported or translated.”

— Gregg Phillips

“God will not be mocked. People can debate me. Question me. Even ridicule what they don't understand.”

— Gregg Phillips

What’s next

It remains to be seen whether Phillips' claims about teleportation and other controversial statements will impact his leadership role at FEMA. The agency has not yet responded to requests for comment on the matter.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the growing concerns about the leadership and credibility of senior officials in the federal government, particularly those responsible for critical emergency management and disaster response efforts. The fact that Phillips' teleportation claim cannot be corroborated by eyewitnesses raises questions about his judgment and decision-making abilities.