FEMA Official's Bizarre Claims of Teleportation and Controversial Statements

Gregg Phillips, the head of FEMA's office of response and recovery, has stirred controversy with his bizarre claims of teleportation during podcast appearances. He recounted experiences of being mysteriously transported to distant locations, which he insists were real. FEMA has dismissed his statements as informal and out of context. Additionally, Phillips has made alarming assertions about Covid-19 and election fraud, raising questions about his credibility. With a background in various government roles, Phillips now oversees critical disaster response efforts at FEMA. His unusual claims have sparked widespread discussion and skepticism.

By Narendra Chaudhary Mar 23, 2026, 00:56 IST

Unusual Claims by Gregg Phillips

Gregg Phillips, who took charge of FEMA's office of response and recovery in December, has made headlines for his peculiar claims about teleportation during various podcast interviews. According to a report from a major news outlet, Phillips recounted two extraordinary experiences on the podcast Onward in January 2025. He described an incident where his vehicle was mysteriously lifted and relocated 40 miles into a ditch near a church. In another instance, he claimed to have been teleported to a Waffle House in Rome, Georgia, which was 50 miles from his original location. "I was with my boys, and I mentioned going to Waffle House, and suddenly I found myself there, far from where I started," he recounted. His family was skeptical, responding, "That's not possible, you just left here a moment ago. But it was real," Phillips insisted. He also warned against romanticizing such experiences, stating, "Teleporting is no fun. You know it's happening, but you can't do anything about it, so you just go along for the ride."

FEMA's Official Response

FEMA's Reaction

When approached for comments regarding Phillips' statements, FEMA downplayed the situation. A spokesperson emphasized that the agency, along with the Department of Homeland Security, is dedicated to emergency management and public safety. They noted that many of Phillips' remarks were taken out of context, describing them as informal and somewhat spiritual discussions made during a challenging personal time, prior to his current position. The agency dismissed the inquiries as "so silly it's barely worth acknowledging."

Other Controversial Statements

Additional Claims

Phillips' teleportation anecdotes are not the only controversial claims he has made. In other podcast discussions, he has alleged that both the Covid-19 virus and the vaccine were intentionally designed to harm individuals. Furthermore, he has suggested that officials from the Department of Homeland Security were plotting another assassination attempt on Donald Trump following the 2024 incident.

Background of Gregg Phillips

Who is Gregg Phillips?

Born on October 13, 1960, Gregg Allen Phillips has held various governmental positions, including leading the Mississippi Department of Human Services and serving as Deputy Commissioner of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. He gained notoriety after making a claim on social media, which was later echoed by Donald Trump, alleging that between three and five million non-citizens voted in the 2016 presidential election. This assertion was debunked by fact-checkers and election officials who found no credible evidence to support it. Additionally, Phillips was an executive producer for Dinesh D'Souza's film 2000 Mules, which propagated theories of widespread electoral fraud in the 2020 election, a narrative largely dismissed by analysts and legal experts. He has also collaborated with True the Vote, a Texas organization that made similar allegations without providing substantial proof.

Phillips' Current Role

His Role at FEMA

Currently, Phillips oversees FEMA's office of response and recovery, which is the agency's largest division. In this role, he is tasked with advising on the necessity of federal disaster declarations and aid in response to hurricanes, floods, wildfires, and other emergencies affecting communities.