FEMA Official Claims Teleportation to Waffle House

No one in small Georgia town recalls the alleged incident.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 3:42pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A serene, photorealistic painting of an empty Waffle House restaurant interior, with warm lighting and deep shadows creating a contemplative mood, conceptually representing the skepticism surrounding an unsubstantiated government claim.The lack of any verifiable evidence or eyewitness accounts casts doubt on a FEMA official's extraordinary claim of teleporting to a small-town Waffle House.Rome Today

Gregg Phillips, a top official at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), has claimed that he once teleported to a Waffle House restaurant in the small town of Rome, Georgia. However, the New York Times investigation found no evidence to corroborate Phillips' extraordinary claim, with locals in the town of 39,000 people stating they have no recollection of such an event.

Why it matters

Phillips' alleged teleportation claim, if true, would have significant implications for the laws of physics and our understanding of reality. However, the lack of any verifiable evidence or eyewitness accounts raises doubts about the credibility of his statement, potentially undermining public trust in government officials and institutions.

The details

According to the New York Times report, Phillips stated that he 'teleported' to the Waffle House in Rome, Georgia, but provided no further details about the incident or how it occurred. The newspaper's investigation into the claim found no records or eyewitness accounts to substantiate Phillips' statement, with locals in the small town expressing confusion and skepticism about the alleged event.

  • The New York Times article was published on April 6, 2026.

The players

Gregg Phillips

A top official at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

The New York Times

The newspaper that investigated Phillips' teleportation claim.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I once teleported to a Waffle House in Rome, Georgia.”

— Gregg Phillips, FEMA Official

The takeaway

This story highlights the importance of verifying extraordinary claims, especially when made by government officials, and the need for a high standard of evidence before accepting such statements as fact. The lack of corroborating evidence in this case raises questions about the credibility of the FEMA official's claim and the potential for misinformation to spread, even at the highest levels of government.