Trump thinks defense spending could be halved, but the Pentagon's costliest weapons program is 'relatively affordable,' analyst says

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• President Donald Trump suggested Thursday that the Pentagon's budget could be cut in half if the U.S., China, and Russia can reach some kind of deal. While the F-35 has taken flak as the most expensive acquisition program, an analyst said it looks "relatively affordable" for the capabilities that it brings.

President Donald Trump and Elon Musk's DOGE team look to slash defense spending, but a Wall Street analyst thinks the Pentagon's most expensive weapons program delivers plenty of bang for the buck.