Trump appointee sparks concern over teleportation claims
Border Protection Commissioner Rodney S. Scott, Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency Karen Evans and Director of the Office of Response and Recovery in the FEMA, Greg Phillips stand behind U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem as she holds a press conference at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) National Response Coordination Center in Washington, D.C., U.S., January 24, 2026. REUTERS/Nathan Howard
Gregg Phillips, President Donald Trump's appointee as associate administrator for FEMA's Office of Response and Recovery, is drawing scrutiny for repeatedly claiming he was involuntarily "teleported."
Phillips, who lacks formal disaster management experience, told podcast hosts he ended up at a Waffle House in Rome, Georgia, 50 miles from where he started, insisting the experience was "real" despite being impossible. He also described how his car was "lifted up" and dropped in a ditch outside a church in Albany, Georgia.
Phillips defended the claims on Truth Social, “I have no regrets for my words nor my faith in my Savior, Jesus Christ. The Bible has many examples of the power of God.”
Beyond teleportation claims, Phillips promoted election fraud conspiracy theories and violence, saying former President Joe Biden "deserves to die."
Senator Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) criticized his appointment, "You'd think we could find people grounded in reality to run our government programs."
