Kulturkampf

[Ribosome]

The F35 has been a mess from the start. I remember first hearing about it back in 2002 when it was a hot button political issue. 

I think Trump is just the perfect excuse the European countries need to write them off this early and go with other planes.
Even before Trump some EU countries wanted to stop supplying parts for the F35 because they were being used by Israel to bomb Gaza.

That's the thing though. 

There is no other plane.

The US offering the capabilities of the F-35 to partners at such a competitive price made sure that any comparable European fighter never even left the drawing board. 

While there is no true kill switch, in terms of product support all roads lead back to Lockheed Martin so you're bound ever tighter to the US for support for decades to come.