At North Carolina GOP convention, vintage Trump tees up fights for 2022 and beyond

Former President Donald Trump delivered a blistering attack Saturday night on Joe Biden's record and cancel culture, vowing to fight aggressively in 2022 and beyond against the "disgrace" of left-wing radicalism gripping the country. 

"Our border is wide open, illegal immigration is skyrocketing at a level we’ve never seen before," Trump said in a rousing speech before the North Carolina Republican Party convention.

"Drugs are pouring in, gas prices are soaring, our industries are being pillaged by foreign cyber attacks," he continued. 

Painting a picture of a brutal yet critical fight in next year's midterm elections, Trump told the assembly: "The survival of our country depends on our ability to elect Republicans at every level" of government.

The president has made few major public appearances since his departure from the White House in January, most notably a speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference in February at which he hinted that he might run for the White House again in 2024. 

At the Saturday convention, Trump slammed the Biden administration’s policies several months into the Democrat’s administration, linking it to much-maligned "critical race theory" and socialism. "It’s a disgrace, what’s happening to our country," he said to the crowd.

The former president further touted his own administration’s accomplishments, highlighting the lightning-quick development and rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine. "We’ve saved a lot of lives, all over the world. We’ve saved millions and millions of lives," he said.

He also pointed to his aggressive approach to illegal immigration, citing what he said was a "one-day turnaround" for illegal immigrants at the border and highlighting the end of the controversial "catch-and-release" approach to immigrant apprehension.

Notably, Trump slammed U.S. infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci, who is currently advising the White House on the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Fauci held that role in the Trump administration last year but ultimately had a falling-out with Trump as the pandemic wore on.

Trump claimed Fauci was "not a great doctor, but a great promoter," and claimed: "He’s been wrong on almost every issue."

At Saturday night's event, he provided a surprise endorsement, backing U.S. Rep. Ted Budd for the North Carolina Senate race next year after his daughter-in-law Lara announced she had opted not to run.