LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — President Donald Trump says Elon Musk will probably be having a look at Castle Knox, the mythical depository in Kentucky for American gold reserves, to verify the gold remains to be there.Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says there’s an audit annually and that “all of the gold is provide and accounted for.”The USA Bullion Depository at Castle Knox has saved valuable steel bullion reserves for the USA since 1937 and has turn out to be synonymous for protected and neatly safe. Along side protective gold reserves, Castle Knox is these days extensively utilized because the Military’s human sources command middle, and it hosts the Military’s biggest annual coaching tournament every summer time.“We’re going to open up the the doorways. We’re going to check up on Castle Knox,” Trump mentioned in a speech to Republican governors Thursday night time. “I don’t wish to open it and the cabinets are naked,” he added.
The AP’s Chris Megerian, studies that President Donald Trump desires Elon Musk to test to be sure that The us’s gold reserves are nonetheless at Castle Knox in Kentucky.
Castle Knox historical past and placement
The Military publish is set 35 miles south of Louisville and encompasses 109,000 acres in 3 Kentucky counties — Bullitt, Hardin, and Mead. Camp Knox used to be established right through Global Warfare I and become an artillery coaching middle, in line with the Military publish’s web page. It used to be made an enduring set up in 1932 and has been identified since then as Castle Knox. The primary gold arrived at Castle Knox in 1937 with the first Cavalry Regiment referred to as on to protect the cargo.
With the outbreak of Global Warfare II in Europe, the Military created the Armored Pressure at Castle Knox, and 1000’s of infantrymen have been ordered there and presented to the tank. For just about 80 years, the publish used to be referred to as the “House of Cavalry and Armor.”
In 2005, the Military made up our minds to transport the Armor Heart and Faculty to Castle Benning, Georgia, and the Human Useful resource Command Heart of Excellence used to be established at Castle Knox. In 2013, ROTC Cadet Summer time Coaching used to be consolidated at Castle Knox. The publish hosts the Military’s biggest annual coaching tournament every summer time.
How a lot gold is saved at Castle Knox?In keeping with the U.S. Mint, present gold holdings at the USA Bullion Depository at Castle Knox are 147.3 million oz. About part of the Treasury’s saved gold is saved at Castle Knox. Has the gold ever been got rid of? The Mint says simplest very small amounts had been got rid of to check the purity of the gold right through frequently scheduled audits. Apart from for those samples, no gold has been transferred to or from the depository for a few years. The gold’s ebook worth is $42.22 in line with ounce. Simply how protected is Castle Knox?The depository may be very protected. The real construction and content material of the ability is understood through only some, and no person particular person is aware of all of the procedures to open the vault. What is understood publicly is that the ability used to be in-built 1936 the use of 16,000 cubic toes of granite, 4,200 cubic yards of concrete, 750 heaps of reinforcing metal and 670 heaps of structural metal. The power is closely guarded and has damaged its strict coverage of now not permitting guests simplest 3 times.
Has any individual been allowed to peer the gold reserves?In 1974, the USA Mint opened the vaults to a gaggle of reporters and a congressional delegation so they may see the gold reserves. The Treasury secretary allowed the consult with after power rumors that the gold have been got rid of. Till then, the one particular person rather then approved group of workers to get admission to the vaults used to be President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Since then, the vaults had been opened one different time: In 2017, Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin visited with Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin and congressional representatives. Present Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has mentioned he would fortunately prepare an inspection for any senator who’s thinking about seeing the vaults.Castle Knox in widespread lexiconThe gold depository at Castle Knox has a name for being impenetrable, which has received it a spot in pop culture. As early as 1952, a Looney Tunes caricature featured Insects Bunny and Yosemite Sam digging for gold Castle Knox. Castle Knox has additionally been featured within the plot of flicks such because the 1964 James Bond secret agent mystery “Goldfinger” and the 1981 comedy “Stripes,” which used to be partly filmed on the publish.___Associated Press creator Jonathan J. Cooper in Phoenix contributed.
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