Eleanor Finch
If you're tired of receiving endless text messages from political candidates asking for your vote or money, you're not alone. With the 2024 election nearing, many Americans are experiencing an influx of unwanted political texts, including those from former President Donald Trump and his supporters. While political campaign phone calls and texts are exempt from the Do Not Call list, there are several ways to reduce the number of annoying texts you receive.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| How to stop Trump texts | Reply with "stop", “stopall”, “endall”, or “cancel” |
| Block the number | |
| Filter out text messages from anyone not in your contact list | |
| Report the text as spam | |
| Use a call-blocking service like Robokiller or NoMoRobo | |
| Use an app like Sifter to filter out spam texts |
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What You'll Learn
Replying 'stop' to unsubscribe
If you're tired of receiving unwanted Trump texts, there's a simple solution: reply "STOP". This method works for most legitimate organizations, as they are required by law to comply with your request. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) mandates that campaigns "'honor opt-out requests' when you reply with "STOP".
However, it's important to note that this method may not work for all messages, especially those sent by scammers or unethical text vendors. Replying with any response, including "STOP", indicates to them that your phone number is active, which may result in an increase in the number of texts you receive. In such cases, it is advisable to block and report the number instead of replying.
To block unwanted texts on an iPhone, you can enable the "Filter Unknown Senders" option in your message settings. This will send texts from unknown or private numbers to a separate "Unknown Senders" tab. Unfortunately, you cannot selectively filter specific unknown numbers on iPhones. On Android devices, you can block specific numbers by navigating to the Messages app, choosing the text from the number you want to block, and following the blocking instructions.
Additionally, you can use call and text-blocking apps like Robokiller, NoMoRobo, or YouMail, which offer additional protection by filtering out spam calls and texts reported by other users. These apps typically require a subscription, with prices ranging from $5 to $15 per month.
While replying "STOP" is a straightforward method to unsubscribe from legitimate political campaign texts, it may not be effective for all types of senders. In some cases, blocking and reporting the number or utilizing specialized apps may be more successful in stopping unwanted Trump texts.
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Blocking the number
If you're receiving Trump texts, it's likely that your information was obtained by a political organization. If you're looking to stop these texts, blocking the number is an effective solution. Here are the steps you can take:
Blocking a phone number will prevent you from receiving further text messages, calls, or robocalls from that specific number. It's important to note that spammers often use multiple numbers, so you may need to block additional numbers in the future. Here's how you can block a number on your device:
- IPhone: Go to the text message and tap the phone number at the top of the screen. Tap the "Info" button, then select "Block this Caller" and confirm by tapping "Block Contact".
- Android: Open the text message and tap the three-dot icon in the top-right corner. Select "Block Number" or "Details", then choose "Block & Report Spam". Make sure to check the "Report spam" box and confirm by tapping "OK".
Additional Tips:
- If you're unsure whether the message is legitimate or from a scammer, it's recommended to block and report the number. Replying to a scammer indicates that your number is active.
- You can also enable the "Filter Unknown Senders" feature on iPhones. Go to "Settings", select "Messages", and toggle on "Filter Unknown Senders". This will filter messages from unknown numbers into a separate tab.
- For Android devices, you can block numbers directly from the messaging app. Open the message, choose the text from the number you want to block, and follow the blocking options presented.
- After blocking a number, you can report spam texts to your carrier by forwarding the message to 7726 (SPAM).
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Filtering out messages from unknown senders
If you are receiving unwanted political text messages, you can filter out messages from unknown senders on your iPhone by going to Settings > Apps > Messages. Scroll down to Message Filtering and turn on Filter Unknown Senders. This puts people who send you iMessages or text messages and don't match an email address or phone number in your contacts list into a separate Messages list. You can also go to Settings > Notifications > Messages > Customize Notifications and disable Unknown Senders.
If you are using macOS, choose View > Known Senders in Messages, and “Known Senders” appears as a label at the top of your conversations list. You can use keystrokes to move among views, like Control-Command-1 for All Messages and Control-Command-2 for Known Senders.
You can also install a third-party app that can enable filters, which only apply to text and multimedia messages (SMS and MMS). However, there is a privacy risk with third-party text-messaging analysis, as the contents of your SMS/MMS messages are sent to the other company to process.
In addition to filtering, you can also block numbers, report spam or junk messages, and file a complaint with the FCC if you think you've received a political robocall or text that does not comply with the FCC's rules.
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Using call-blocking services
If you are tired of receiving Trump texts, there are several call-blocking services you can use to put a stop to them.
Phone Settings
If you have an iPhone, you can enable a built-in text-blocking feature by going to Settings, then Messages, and toggling the switch that says "Filter Unknown Senders". This will ensure that you only receive texts from people in your contact list. For Android users, you can block specific numbers by opening the Messages app, choosing the text from the number you want to block, and following the blocking options on the following screen.
Third-Party Apps
There are also third-party apps that can help you block unwanted calls and texts. For example, Robokiller, YouMail, Should I Answer?, Hiya, and Truecaller are all apps that offer spam-blocking services. However, be aware that some of these apps may ask for sensitive information.
Carrier Services
Many phone companies also enable their customers to block additional unwanted calls by enrolling in a service or installing an app. Additionally, some carriers, such as AT&T and Verizon, are now building call blockers into their networks. Check with your provider to see what options are available to you.
Reporting Spam
If you are receiving spam texts, you can report them by forwarding the messages to 7726 (SPAM). This will help phone companies identify and block spam numbers. You can also file an informal complaint with the FCC at fcc.gov/complaints if you believe you have received a political text that does not comply with their rules.
Remember, if you are unsure whether a message is legitimate or not, do not reply. Instead, look up the company's phone number independently and contact them directly to ask if the message is legitimate.
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Reporting spam texts
Political campaign phone calls and texts are usually exempt from the Do Not Call list. However, if you are tired of receiving spam texts, there are several ways to report and/or block them.
First, you can simply reply "STOP" to the number sending you the messages. This should be enough to remove you from the list. After replying "STOP", you can then block the number. You can also go to your messages settings and filter out text messages from anyone not in your contact list.
Second, if you receive a text that you think breaks the FCC rules, you can report it by forwarding the text to "7726", which spells out the word "SPAM". This will help your wireless provider spot and block similar messages in the future.
Third, you can file a complaint with the FCC at fcc.gov/complaints. You can also send a letter to the following address:
Federal Communications Commission Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau
45 L Street NE
Washington, DC 20554
Be sure to include your name, address, contact information, and as many details about your complaint as possible.
Finally, you can report the spam text on your messaging app. Look for the option to report junk or spam. For iPhone users, you can go to Settings > Apps > Messages. Tap Blocked Contacts, then swipe left on a number in the list and tap "Unblock". You can also tap "Edit" and then tap the number you want to unblock.
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Frequently asked questions
If you are receiving Trump texts, it is likely that you have received texts from a scammer. If you suspect this is the case, it is best to block and report the number as replying could notify the sender that your number is real. If you are sure the texts are legitimate, reply with the word "STOP" and then block the number. You can also go to your messages settings and filter out text messages from anyone not in your contact list.
If you are still receiving unwanted Trump texts, you could consider downloading a call-blocking service such as Robokiller or NoMoRobo. Alternatively, you could download "Sifter" from the Apple Store, which allows you to set up a blacklist of keywords such as "Trump", "vote", "maga", and "republican".
Although political campaigns need your prior consent to send these messages, you likely gave this consent unknowingly. Cyber security expert Peter Tran says that if you have used your phone number in any type of online ordering, marketing, or social media platform, you may have agreed to receive these messages in the fine print of the end-user agreement.
