Kemi Badenoch has called for “root and branch reform” of the BBC as she urged the Prime Minister to personally intervene and ask Donald Trump not to sue the broadcaster.
Mr Trump has said it is his "obligation" to sue the BBC for defamation after the broadcaster allegedly doctored footage of him in a speech.
The US President gave it until 10pm on Friday to apologise and offer a settlement figure - or face his lawyers in a Florida court.
The BBC has since apologised to the leader, but has claimed they do not believe that he has a case for defamation.
Kemi Badenoch told Keir Starmer to 'get on the phone' to Donald Trump
|GB NEWS
Speaking to Britain's News Channel, Ms Badenoch said: "I think that's what we need to see now is root and branch reform.
"What this shows is that this is a pattern of behaviour. There are people there who are pretending to be neutral, pretending to be impartial at the BBC, but who have an agenda.
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"We've seen this not just in the coverage of the US. We saw it in the Middle East coverage. We saw it in the way that they could not accept biological fact.
"The coverage of sex and gender has been absolutely appalling. They've ruined some women's lives with the way that they covered it.
"They need to start rooting out a lot of the activists who are lurking in the BBC, who have a different agenda from serving the public, serving the licence fee payer."
GB News host Dawn Neesom said: "Do you think Donald Trump would be right if he did sue the BBC?"
Donald Trump said it is his 'obligation' to sue the BBC
| GB NewsMs Badenoch said: "Well, I hope that he doesn't because you and I know that if he sues the BBC, we're the ones who are going to have to pay for it.
"Even you at GB News have to pay the licence fee. There's no getting off. There's no getting away from that.
"The truth is that when the BBC makes mistakes, it is we, the public, who pay for it.
"So I think the Prime Minister should be on the phone asking Donald Trump very nicely to not sue the BBC, because it is going to be a huge waste to public money."
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A spokesman for Mr Trump's legal team told GB News: "It is now clear that BBC engaged in a pattern of defamation against President Trump by intentionally and deceitfully editing his historic speech in order to try and interfere in the Presidential Election.
"President Trump will continue to hold accountable those who traffic in lies, deception, and fake news."
A BBC spokesperson said: "The BBC holds itself to the highest editorial standards.
"This matter has been brought to our attention and we are now looking into it."
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