Citigroup Reverses Firearms Policy After Trump, State Pressure

Citigroup has reversed its 2018 policy that restricted banking services to firearms retailers, a move driven largely by sustained political pressure from President Donald Trump and Republican-led states. The original policy, implemented after the Parkland school shooting, aimed to promote stricter gun sales practices such as age restrictions and background checks, even beyond legal requirements in some states. However, Trump and conservative lawmakers have accused banks of political discrimination against conservative customers, prompting several Republican states to enact laws penalizing financial institutions that 'boycott' the firearms industry. In response, Citigroup updated its employee Code of Conduct and customer access policies to explicitly prohibit discrimination based on political affiliation, racial, or religious grounds, framing the change as aligning with a broader non-discrimination stance. This policy reversal reflects growing tensions between corporate gun reform efforts and political backlash, with calls for clearer regulations to prevent financial exclusion based on ideology. Despite Citigroup’s shift, skepticism remains regarding transparency and the broader implications for gun control advocacy and banking sector roles.