Trump and Musk Question if Fort Knox Gold Has Been “Stolen”

President Trump has raised doubts about the U.S. gold reserves at Fort Knox, suggesting they might have been stolen—a concern also voiced by Elon Musk. Trump plans to visit the facility personally, despite offering no evidence for these claims. The U.S. Mint reports the depository holds 147.3 million ounces of gold.

These suspicions continue even though Trump’s own Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirms annual audits show all gold is accounted for. Additionally, Steven Mnuchin, Treasury Secretary during Trump’s first term, personally verified the reserves during a visit. Musk, newly appointed to tackle government waste and fraud, has amplified these concerns on Joe Rogan’s podcast, wondering if the gold is real or just “spray-painted lead.” He’s proposed live-streaming a tour of the facility, emphasizing that the gold “belongs to the American people.” Trump has repeatedly mentioned this issue, telling governors they plan to “open the doors to Fort Knox” and claiming his administration has already uncovered “hundreds of billions in fraud.” The military base has safeguarded U.S. gold since 1937.