The 2019 cost of an F-35 is slated to be $88 million- just about what an upgraded F-18 will cost.
Trump is just negotiating with the sharks at LMCO to get the best possible price - they play hardball so it's best to have the bat in your hands when dealing with them.
Smart move to start a bit of competition
He is also dealing harshly with the air force. The five generals seen exiting the meeting did not look happy
“The 2019 cost of an F-35 is slated to be $88 million- just about what an upgraded F-18 will cost.”
Since when has any cost forecast been met? It is always a lie to get continued funding. The F-35 has had over $1 trillion spent with little to show for it.