Confusing about を that has no verb in article


I'm reading this
[article](https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/easy/k10011580241000/k10011580241000.html)
and I do not understand why the bolded **を** exists. I'm am expecting a verb
such as する, but there isn't one. How is the **を** functioning here or why is
there no verb paired with it?

> アメリカのトランプ大統領は、自分のことを悪く書く新聞やテレビ **を** 「うそのニュース」や「国民の敵」だと言っています。
>
> My Translation: American president Trump says that things like news papers
> and TV who write poorly about his matters are "Fake News".




No verb? Isn't 「言っています」 a verb (phrase)?

> 「Person + は + Object/Another Person + を/のことを + "Name" + と/だと/って + 言う/言っている,
> etc.」

is an extremely common expression meaning:

> "(Person) calls/is calling (Object/Another Person) "(Name)"."

「言う」 means "to call" in this expression and you will keep encountering this
construct for as long as you study Japanese.

> "U.S. President Trump calls the newspapers and TV (stations) that speak ill
> of him 'Fake News' or 'enemies of the people'."




No verb? Isn't 「言っています」 a verb (phrase)?

> 「Person + は + Object/Another Person + を/のことを + "Name" + と/だと/って + 言う/言っている,
> etc.」

is an extremely common expression meaning:

> "(Person) calls/is calling (Object/Another Person) "(Name)"."

「言う」 means "to call" in this expression and you will keep encountering this
construct for as long as you study Japanese.

> "U.S. President Trump calls the newspapers and TV (stations) that speak ill
> of him 'Fake News' or 'enemies of the people'."

