In a bold move blending populist transparency with a dash of spectacle, tech billionaire Elon Musk has ignited a new conversation that’s capturing the attention of Americans far beyond the realms of technology, space travel, or electric vehicles. The Tesla and SpaceX CEO has publicly proposed a livestream of Fort Knox’s legendary gold reserves — an idea now reportedly supported by President Donald Trump.“I mean, that would be really fun,” Musk said. “And after all, it is actually the gold of the American people, so the American people, it seems to me, have a right to see their gold.”
The comment came during a thread on X (formerly Twitter), where Musk casually entertained the idea of checking whether the U.S. Bullion Depository still holds its full stockpile of gold — a staggering 147.3 million troy ounces, valued at over $459 billion at current market prices.
Though said partly in jest, the proposal taps into longstanding public curiosity and skepticism about one of America’s most secretive institutions.
The U.S. Bullion Depository at Fort Knox, located in Kentucky, is widely believed to be one of the most secure facilities in the world. It is guarded by multiple layers of physical and electronic security, and its exact specifications are classified. The gold stored there is primarily in the form of gold bars, most of which are of 400-ounce standard, and serves as a key part of the U.S. reserves.
According to the U.S. Mint, Fort Knox holds roughly 147.3 million troy ounces of gold — about half of the country’s total gold holdings. That gold is owned by the U.S. Treasury and is considered a strategic financial reserve.Despite official records and annual audits, public access to Fort Knox is virtually nonexistent. The last time members of the media were allowed a glimpse inside was in 1974, and very few government officials have ever seen the interior firsthand. This lack of transparency has, over the decades, bred conspiracy theories ranging from the harmlessly speculative to the outright absurd.
Musk’s remarks struck a chord with millions, prompting discussions about government transparency and the role of public trust in national financial institutions. In true Musk fashion, the comment balanced humor and sincerity — playful, yet pointed: “Hopefully, it looks really cool. You know, open the doors like, ‘Is it there? Is that really gold? Let’s check.’ Maybe it’ll be really interesting.”
Not long after Musk’s post, sources close to Donald Trump confirmed that the president is also in favor of a Fort Knox livestream. Trump, who has long advocated for increased transparency and has voiced distrust of federal institutions, sees the proposal as aligning with his broader political messaging. It’s also consistent with his populist tone: giving “the people” access to what is supposedly theirs.The call to livestream the gold — or at least conduct a more public verification — has gained traction among Trump’s political base, as well as among cryptocurrency enthusiasts and gold standard advocates who are generally skeptical of fiat currency and government financial policies.
Skepticism about Fort Knox is nothing new. Over the years, conspiracy theories have alleged that some or all of the gold has been secretly removed, replaced with fake bars, or even never existed in the quantities claimed.Such theories gained momentum during periods of economic uncertainty, particularly after the United States went off the gold standard in 1971 under President Nixon. Since then, the dollar has been backed solely by the government’s promise, not by a physical commodity, fueling fears among some that the actual reserves are either no longer intact or have been mismanaged.
ormer Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin also attempted to quell doubts following his 2017 visit to Fort Knox — the first by a Treasury Secretary in more than 50 years. “The gold was there when I visited it,” Mnuchin told CNBC. “I hope nobody’s moved it. I’m sure they haven’t.”However, Mnuchin’s remarks — though intended to be reassuring — also raise an important question: Why has so little access been granted to verify something of such national significance?
Musk, ever the provocateur, has once again managed to fuse entertainment with a legitimate public discourse. Whether or not the livestream happens, the conversation is now out in the open.And in a time when trust is arguably more valuable than gold, that might be the real point.A Fort Knox livestream might not be likely, but it is undeniably captivating. Whether the idea stems from genuine concern, performance politics, or a flair for the dramatic, Musk and Trump have tapped into something powerful: the desire for transparency, for accountability, and for assurance that the promises made by institutions are backed by tangible truth
