The White House said Tuesday that its officials “will determine” which news outlets can regularly cover President Donald Trump up close — a sharp break from a century of tradition in which a pool of independently chosen news organizations go where the chief executive does and hold him accountable on behalf of regular Americans.

In announcing plans to handpick the reporters who can ask the president questions, the White House is breaking decades of precedent.

The White House said Wednesday that its officials “will decide” which news outlets can regularly cover Trump up close – a sharp break from a century of tradition.

A federal judge on Monday refused to immediately order the White House to restore The Associated Press’ access to presidential events, saying the news organization had not demonstrated it had suffered any irreparable harm.

A federal judge declined on Monday to temporarily restore the Associated Press’ access to some of President Donald Trump’s events, the Oval Office and Air Force One.

The judge told attorneys for the Trump administration and the AP that the issue required more exploration before ruling.