The decision departs from a century of tradition in which a pool of independent news organizations go where the chief executive does and holds him accountable on behalf of regular Americans.

Karoline Leavitt tried to tamp down speculation about Trump’s injury by claiming he shakes more hands “than any other president in history.”

The White House said on Tuesday it would decide which media organizations participate in the press pool that covers the president, wresting control away from the group of journalists that has done so for decades.