Trump Seeks Fort Knox Inspection After Ex-CIA Official Charged

Former President Donald Trump called again for a physical inspection of Fort Knox after former senior CIA executive David Rush was arrested and charged in a case that federal authorities say involved more than 300 gold bars valued at over $40 million.

Federal agents searched Rush’s Virginia home on May 18 and took custody of the gold bars, about $2 million in U.S. currency and 35 luxury watches. He was arrested on May 19 and charged in Virginia federal court with criminal theft of public money, according to court filings.

Federal court documents and an FBI affidavit say Rush, an executive-level CIA employee with top-secret clearance, requested and received a large quantity of gold bars and foreign currency between November and March for what were described as work-related expenses. Prosecutors allege he converted government property for personal use. His attorney declined to comment.

Investigators allege Rush also fabricated parts of his background, including false claims of service as a Navy pilot and degrees from two universities. The FBI worked with the CIA and the Department of Justice in building the case.

Trump linked the arrest to questions he has raised about Fort Knox’s transparency. He posted about the case on Truth Social and in a May 10 interview said he wants to visit the depository, adding, “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.”

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent rejected suggestions of missing reserves, saying all the gold is present and that the Treasury conducts annual internal audits. He invited members of Congress to visit Fort Knox to verify holdings.

Fort Knox, the United States Bullion Depository in Kentucky, holds about 147 million ounces of gold, roughly 59% of the U.S. official reserves, with an estimated value near $700 billion. The depository has not had an independent public audit since 1974. No federal agency has announced a formal timeline for an independent inspection, and the Department of Government Efficiency has not released a concrete audit plan.

Market participants and some policymakers are watching the case for its implications for custody and oversight of physical gold. Interest in tokenized gold products rose during the 2026 gold rally, increasing focus on provenance and verification of bullion holdings.

As of now, no date has been set for a public inspection of Fort Knox. Lawmakers have been told they may arrange visits, while federal officials point to existing internal audit procedures as the current means of accounting for the inventory.