Donald Trump has slammed Oprah Winfrey as “biased” and “insecure” calling on his former friend to run for US president so that she can be “exposed and defeated”.

Oprah sparked speculation that she might run for office following her rousing speech on equality at January’s Golden Globe awards.

However, she later said she had no desire to put herself forward as a Democratic candidate for the 2020 election.

Mr Trump, who had previously said he would “beat Oprah” in a race to the Oval Office, reignited the conversation after Oprah appeared as an interviewer on US TV program 60 Minutes.

Just watched a very insecure Oprah Winfrey, who at one point I knew very well, interview a panel of people on 60 Minutes. The questions were biased and slanted, the facts incorrect. Hope Oprah runs so she can be exposed and defeated just like all of the others!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 19, 2018

He tweeted: “Just watched a very insecure Oprah Winfrey, who at one point I knew very well, interview a panel of people on 60 Minutes. The questions were biased and slanted, the facts incorrect. Hope Oprah runs so she can be exposed and defeated just like all of the others!”

On the program, Oprah met with a group of voters in Michigan, some of whom had voted for Mr Trump in the 2016 US election, to hear their thoughts on his first year in office.

The topics of discussion included Mr Trump’s previous comment about people from “sh–thole” countries, and tax laws.

Oprah, 64, had been backed by a number of high-profile stars, including Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks, to become the next US president.

But she told US magazine InStyle: “I’ve always felt very secure and confident with myself in knowing what I could do and what I could not.

“And so it’s not something that interests me. I don’t have the DNA for it.”

In January, Oprah proclaimed the end of women having come forward with stories of #MeToo is around the corner in an empowering acceptance speech at the Golden Globes.

The emotional speech lambasted the sexual harassment of women as her words echoed far beyond the film world and were being interpreted as a declaration of political intent.

“A new day is on the horizon,” Oprah said.

Oprah has never confirmed a presidential run in 2020, but her longtime partner Stedman Graham told the Los Angeles Times after her speech, “she would absolutely do it”.

“It’s up to the people.”

– With AAP