Trump: Newspapers pulling endorsements means 'I'm doing a great job'

Former President Trump took a victory lap Wednesday after several leading newspapers chose not to endorse Vice President Harris in next week's presidential election.

“Do you notice the Washington Post and Los Angeles Times aren't endorsing anybody? You know what they're really saying? Because they only endorse Democrats," Trump said during a rally in North Carolina. "They're saying, 'This Democrat's no good. They're no good,' and they think I'm doing a great job. They just don't want to say it."

The former president was drawing reference to controversial decisions by the owners of the Washington Post and Los Angeles Times not to endorse a candidate in the Nov. 5 election.

At the Post, the call was made by billionaire Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, who subsequently argued in an op-ed this week that presidential endorsements do not sway voters but do hurt the media's reputation and increase perception of bias.

Some inside the Post's newsroom have suggested Bezos is protecting his business interests, assertions he denied in defending his decision this week.

Trump on Wednesday also referenced a decision by Gannett, the owner of USA Today, not to endorse a presidential candidate.

"Washington and USA Today, congratulations," Trump said. "I just heard USA Today has not endorsed. They said we're not going to endorse. That means that they think she's no good.”

Trump regularly ridicules broadcast networks and major news organizations that are critical of him and has recently called on the U.S. government to crack down on broadcast outlets.