The End of the Future
Key takeaways
- This article is one of 10 essays in the Summer 2026 print issue, The End of the World as We Know It.
- You know, there’s this problem, solve that problem, solve that problem.
- In the space of just two and a half minutes, Musk mentioned the future five times.
This article is one of 10 essays in the Summer 2026 print issue, The End of the World as We Know It.
“There’s always problems in life. You know, there’s this problem, solve that problem, solve that problem. But, you know, there need to be things that inspire you. There need to be things that make you glad to wake up in the morning and say, ‘I’m looking forward to the future.’” Those were the words of Elon Musk, speaking just after U.S. President Donald Trump’s second inauguration. “I’m super fired up for the future,” he continued. “It’s going to be very exciting.”
In the space of just two and a half minutes, Musk mentioned the future five times. His speech stood out in part for its fervor: Who speaks like this in politics today? As a source of inspiration, the future often seems dead, having been replaced by nostalgia and crisis management.