Trump Texts Are Headed to U.S. Phones in Test of Alert System

A man uses a smartphone.

Photographer: Kiyoshi Ota/Bloomberg

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The Federal Emergency Management Agency on Sept. 20 will conduct the first test of a national wireless alert system that allows the president to send text messages directly to a majority of mobile-phone users in the U.S.

The message will be identified as a “Presidential Alert” and will contain the text: “THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed,” according to FEMA. Carriers across the country will participate in the test, meaning that most -- but not all -- mobile users will receive the message with no ability to opt out, the agency said in a statement last week.