President Donald Trump rekindled the Fort Knox audit debate during a May 10 interview with investigative journalist Sharyl Attkisson. He said he still wants to verify whether America’s gold reserves remain inside the vault.
The remarks reignited a transparency question first raised by Trump and Elon Musk in February 2025.
Why the Fort Knox Audit Question Returns
When Attkisson asked what happened to the audit, Trump said he wanted to “knock on the door of Fort Knox.” He added that the goal was to confirm whether the reserves remain intact.
“I do want to go to Fort Knox sometime. I want to see if the gold is there, which I’m sure it will be,” Trump stated.
The United States Bullion Depository in Kentucky holds roughly 147 million ounces of gold. Treasury figures place that stash near 59% of total US official holdings.
At current gold (XAU) prices, the bars are worth several hundred billion dollars.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated in February 2025 that annual internal verifications confirm every bar is accounted for.
However, the last public audit involving outside observers occurred in 1974, a gap that has fueled decades of speculation.
What Comes Next
Trump did not announce a new inspection, formal audit, or visit timeline. The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which originally floated the idea, has gone quiet.
A related bill from Representative Thomas Massie also remains stalled in committee.
“I just introduced HR 3795, the Gold Reserve Transparency Act of 2025, to audit U.S. gold reserves. In February, President Trump said he wanted to go to Fort Knox to “make sure the gold is there.” This bill provides the full disclosure President Trump seeks,” Massie stated.
Renewed attention from the president could nudge gold and safe-haven markets, although no measurable price reaction followed the interview.
The rhetoric becoming a physical inspection could shape the next chapter of one of America’s longest-running monetary mysteries.
