Can't set @ViewChild properly in app.component.ts

Ionic Framework ionic-v3
1

hey, I have a problem accessing a @ViewChild() property in app.component.ts. Is there anything I need to do in order to use it in app.component?

I think I have done it correctly but it simply does not get set in ngAfterViewInit
Fun thing though is if I use setTimeout for 2 seconds, then it gets set after those 2 seconds.
Any help is appreciated

export class MyApp {
  @ViewChild(DropDown) dropDown: DropDown
  @ViewChild(Nav) nav: Nav
  
   ngAfterViewInit() {
    console.log(this.dropDown) // undefined
    console.log(this.nav) // outputs nav correctly
    
    // this actually DOES have dropDown, but I can't access it though
    console.log(this) // {MyApp {platform: Platform, ... dropDown: DropDown...}
    
     setTimeout(() => {
       console.log(this.dropDown) // Now it is set (after 2 seconds)
     }, 2000)
  }
}