Trump blocks journalists from traveling with him

People gather outside the West Wing of the White House in Washington, Thursday, Nov. 10, 2016, as they wait for the arrival of President-elect Donald Trump to the White House for his meeting with President Barack Obama. —SUSAN WALSH/AP

WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump has refused to let journalists travel with him to cover his first meeting with President Barack Obama.

The move broke from protocol intended to ensure that the public has a watchful eye on the nation’s leader.

Trump flew from New York to Washington on his private jet without the so-called “pool” of reporters, photographers and television cameras that travel with presidents and presidents-elect.

Trump’s meeting with Obama on Thursday was due to be reported by the pool of White House journalists who cover the president.

News organizations had tried for weeks to coordinate a pool of journalists who could travel with Trump immediately after Election Day if he won the election. But his campaign did not cooperate and his senior advisers refused Wednesday to discuss any such arrangements.