The Presidential Alert meme emerged on October 3, 2018, following a nationwide test of the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) by FEMA. Millions of Americans simultaneously received a high-priority notification on their mobile devices labeled 'Presidential Alert.' Within minutes, the internet was flooded with photoshopped versions of the notification, replacing the standard test message with humorous, bizarre, or politically charged text. The format relies on the stark, official aesthetic of the smartphone notification box to give absurd statements a sense of urgent authority, making it a staple for satirical commentary and situational humor.