Kelly was upset about the food at NATO breakfast, not Trump Germany remark, Sanders says

William Cummings | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption Donald Trump says Germany is 'totally controlled by Russia' President Donald Trump claimed a pipeline project has made Germany "totally controlled" by and "captive to Russia" during a combative breakfast Wednesday that kicked off what was already expected to be a fraught NATO summit in Brussels. (July 11)

John Kelly was annoyed he couldn't get a "full breakfast" in Brussels on Wednesday.

At least that was the explanation from White House spokesperson Sarah Sanders when asked about the apparently agitated body language displayed by President Donald Trump's chief of staff during a meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

Sanders told The Washington Post that Kelly "was displeased because he was expecting a full breakfast and there were only pastries and cheese."

A number of news outlets, including the Post, speculated that Kelly's body language was related to the remarks Trump was making at the time about Germany being "totally controlled by Russia."

Trump made the comment while voicing frustrations about how much Germany pays into NATO and the amount of Russian natural gas the country relies on. Trump also said Germany, one of America's closest allies, was "captive to Russia."

Power breakfast: How Trump lambasted Germany over eggs and fruit salad

More: Trump blasts US ally Germany as 'captive to Russia' in tense opening of NATO summit

The Post cited two body language experts, one of whom said Kelly appeared "displeased, maybe irritated” but was feeling "hardcore anger." The other said Kelly "looks like he wants to be anywhere but where he is."

MSNBC's Ari Melber said Kelly "looked 'noticeably perturbed' during Trump's remarks."

WATCH: Trump Chief of Staff John Kelly looked "noticeably perturbed" during Trump's remarks at NATO breakfast.



The White House says he was "displeased" with the breakfast option: pic.twitter.com/q08pvml9x3 — TheBeat w/Ari Melber (@TheBeatWithAri) July 11, 2018

"Just look at Kelly's face throughout Trump's Germany tirade," tweeted Mother Jones magazine. "It says everything."

Just look at John Kelly's face throughout Trump's Germany tirade. It says everything. https://t.co/OZr73G6WIY pic.twitter.com/WN6x8XQOVK — Mother Jones (@MotherJones) July 11, 2018

"Watch John Kelly search the room, his cup, his tie, for some reassuring sign this is all just a dream ... But it never comes. It never comes," tweeted Defense One tech editor Patrick Tucker.

Watch John Kelly search the room, his cup, his tie, for some reassuring sign this is all just a dream... But it never comes. It never comes. https://t.co/ikAfbbDC3F NATO — Patrick Tucker (@DefTechPat) July 11, 2018

On the other hand, The New Republic's Jeet Heer said Kelly always looks like an "old disappointed cop in a movie who is 2 days away from retirement and just got shot by a mobster."

John Kelly always looks like an an old disappointed cop in a movie who is 2 days away from retirement and just got shot by a mobster. https://t.co/APaaA5GLsa — Jeet Heer (@HeerJeet) July 11, 2018

Weekly Standard editor Bill Kristol said Sanders' explanation was "demeaning" and "infantilizing" for a man who "served his country as a Marine for over 40 years."

John Kelly serves his country as a Marine for over forty years. And Sarah Huckabee Sanders thinks nothing of demeaning and infantilizing him, saying Kelly "was displeased because he was expecting a full breakfast and there were only pastries and cheese.'"https://t.co/BFTPWfCybK — Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) July 12, 2018

Trump's Europe trip: Where he's going on his 7-day visit with NATO allies and Putin

More: As he arrives at NATO summit, President Trump hounds allies over 'delinquent' defense spending