Former US President Donald Trump has held his first campaign rally since announcing in November he would run again for the White House in 2024.

The rally was held in the US southern state of South Carolina on Saturday.

Trump courted voters with his campaign mantra, "Make America great again."

He criticized his successor, President Joe Biden, for record high inflation and illegal immigrants crossing the US southern border with Mexico.

He said, "Joe Biden has put America on the fast track to ruin and destruction."

He said, "The 2024 election is our one shot to save our country and we need a leader who is ready to do that on day one."

He said, "Together we will complete the unfinished business of making America great again."

South Carolina is among early voting states in the process of parties nominating their candidates for presidential race. The results in these states are said to affect the rest of the race.

Observers say Trump is trying to get a head start by stumping early in the crucial state.

Some within the Republican Party have expressed concerns over Trump's declining influence, after a number of candidates endorsed by him lost in highly-watched races in the mid-term election last year.

Some have expressed their support for Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, whom they regard as part of the new generation of conservative politicians, as well as former Vice President Mike Pence.