Due a google search on:
1. Project 5 eyes
2. Project Echelon
3. Project Prism
This goes back to the early days after President Truman got rid of the OSS and established the CIA and the NSA.
Neither one were supposed to spy on American citizens.
However, with 5 eyes, we would spy on the uk/Brits, Australians, Kiwis and Canadians and let the mother countries know when they might have problems. Then, they would monitor American citizens for us and keep us appraised.
Eschelon came about a little later, and this 5 eyes lateral spying agreement became solidified and very functional for decades.
Prism supposedly replaced 5 eyes and Eschelon, but the 5 eyes/echelon concept was/is still there.
So Obama would not had to ask NSA/FBI to spy on Trump. He could have Clapper ask his counterpart in Canada to monitor Trump Towers and listen in to what was said.
The FBI would probably had put bugs in or set up electronic interceptions at Trump Towers for their Canadian intel counterparts to monitor all verbal and digital transmission to and from Trump Tower in October of last year until this year up to Trump becoming President.
Have fun. Don’t try this late at night to avoid getting insomnia.
Obama is playing a game by saying he didn’t order the FBI?NSA to spy on candidate Trump and his people. Obama probably had Clapper or ? ask his Canadian counterparts to spy on Trump and his people.
