Donald Trump has said he believes he will be reelected as US president in 2020 because the media relies on him.
In an interview with the New York Times at the Trump International Golf Club, Mr Trump said he believes members of the news media will cover him in a more favourable light because they are profiting from the interest in his presidency.
“Another reason that I’m going to win another four years is because newspapers, television, all forms of media will tank if I’m not there because without me, their ratings are going down the tubes,” he said.
“Without me, the New York Times will indeed be not the failing New York Times, but the failed New York Times.”
He added: “So they basically have to let me win.
“And eventually, probably six months before the election, they’ll be loving me because they’re saying, ‘Please, please, don’t lose Donald Trump.’ OK.”
Mr Trump has been outspoken about his dislike for the news media since he launched his bid for presidency two years ago, particularly on social media.
In February, he tweeted the media is the “enemy of the American people” and has repeatedly dubbed news stories which portray him unfavourably as “fake”.
He went further in October, suggesting television networks lose their federal broadcast licenses for so-called “fake news”.
“With all of the Fake News coming out of NBC and the Networks, at what point is it appropriate to challenge their License? Bad for country!” he tweeted.
Speaking to reporters at the Oval Office hours later, he elaborated: “It is frankly disgusting the way the press is able to write whatever they want to write, and people should look into it.”
