Washington: US President Donald Trump announced plans to inspect Fort Knox to verify the presence of the 400 tonnes of gold stored there. According to the NY Post, which cited US officials, the Fort Knox Bullion Depository in Kentucky contains 147.3 million ounces of gold, representing over half of the Treasury Department’s reserves, equivalent to nearly 370,000 standard gold bars.
Trump made these comments during a speech at the Republican Governors Association meeting, expressing curiosity about the gold’s status. He stated, “All my life I’ve heard about Fort Knox. That’s where the gold is kept, right? I want to find out. We’re going to open the doors and inspect Fort Knox to ensure we actually have the gold.”
His remarks follow a letter from Rand Paul, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, who on February 19 requested an audit of Fort Knox and the United States Mint. Paul noted that Fort Knox has not undergone a formal audit since 1974 and called for regular oversight, including an in-person inspection of the depository by his staff. He requested that this inspection be coordinated by his office and conducted by March 19, 2025.