Breaking: Trump references his 'spidey sense' to r
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Quote:
What Really Happened at Donald Trump's Intelligence Briefing
"I could tell — I'm pretty good with body language — I could tell they were not happy."
by Ken Dilanian, Robert Windrem and William Arkin
What 'body language' is Trump talking about? 7:09
As U.S. officials cast doubt on Donald Trump's claim he read the "body language" of intelligence officials at a recent briefing, NBC News has learned exclusive details of what unfolded in the room — one of Trump's advisers repeatedly interrupted the briefers until Chris Christie intervened, sources said.
The Aug. 17 briefing is attracting fresh scrutiny after Trump said at NBC's Commander-in-Chief Forum that he divined that intelligence officials were "not happy" with President Obama.
"What I did learn," Trump said, "is that our leadership, Barack Obama, did not follow ... what our experts said to do ... And I was very, very surprised.
"I could tell — I'm pretty good with body language — I could tell they were not happy."
Related: Clinton Slams Trump But She Blabbed About Briefing, Too
Timothy Barrett, a spokesman for the Director of National Intelligence, declined to comment Thursday on Trump's characterization.
However, a U.S. official pointed out that intelligence officers don't give policy advice, so it would be inaccurate to say that Obama failed to follow the advice of the intelligence community. A second U.S. official said analysts are trained not to allow their body language to betray their thinking.
Meanwhile, four people with knowledge of the matter told NBC News that one of the advisers Trump brought to the briefing, retired general Mike Flynn, repeatedly interrupted the briefing with pointed questions.
Two sources said Christie, the New Jersey governor and Trump adviser, verbally restrained Flynn -- one saying Christie said, "Shut up," the other reporting he said, "Calm down." Two other sources said Christie touched Flynn's arm in an effort get him to calm down and let the officials continue. Requests for comment from Flynn and Christie were not immediately returned.