Lockheed Martin lost as much as four percent of its total value in the moments after US president-elect Donald Trump tweeted that the cost of the military jet maker's project to build advanced F-35 Lightning II fighters was "out of control."

Panicked investors dumping stock initially shaved off around $3.5 billion (£2.75 billion) from the company's value, though the share price had recovered somewhat by the close of trading on Monday, leaving it nearly 2.5 percent down on the previous day, or a dip of around $2 billion (£1.57 billion).

The F-35 program and cost is out of control. Billions of dollars can and will be saved on military (and other) purchases after January 20th.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 12, 2016

Trump claimed "billions of dollars can and will be saved on military purchases" after he is inaugurated as president of the US.

Enlarge / In fairness, that is terrifying. (credit: Patricia Marroquin via Getty Images)

Leaders of a small Mississippi county have banned its roughly 10,000 residents from dressing in public as clowns, all in response to a wave of threats—online and public— in connection to the latest creepy clown meme.

The Kemper County ordinance, which lasts through November 1 (the day after Halloween), bars anybody of any age from wearing a clown costume, a clown mask, or clown makeup. Violators of the ordinance face a $150 fine.

The county's Board of Supervisors approved the measure last week at the request of James Moore, the county's sheriff. Johnny Whitsett, the board's president, said the clown meme "has really gotten out of hand." Whitsett said "it wouldn't be good" if people saw somebody dressed as a clown in their yard.