Trump's 2024 bid sets up potential showdown in the Sunshine State

Driving the news: Trump's announcement last night from his members-only club in Palm Beach sets up a political showdown with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a potential front-runner after a stellar state showing in the midterm elections as Trump-endorsed candidates elsewhere largely faltered.

• DeSantis, 44, who handily beat Democratic challenger Charlie Crist last week, was a little-known lawmaker elected governor in 2018 with Trump's strong endorsement.

Yes, but: In the lead-up to his announcement, Trump has taken shots at DeSantis, calling him an "average governor with great public relations" and sharing a 2018 campaign video in which DeSantis shows wholehearted fealty to Trump, Axios Miami's Martin Vassolo writes.

• Some conservative news outlets have proclaimed DeSantis the future of the Republican Party, blaming Trump for some of the GOP losses.

Why it matters: The potential showdown squares Florida as a geographical vortex of national political attention, and power, for the next few years.

What they're saying: "America's comeback starts right now," Trump said. "You can't stay quiet any longer. You're angry. You're angry because our country is being destroyed before your very eyes."

The intrigue: Trump didn't mention DeSantis during the meat of his wide-ranging speech, which many news networks cut away from after about 40 minutes.

The other side: Asked about Trump's criticism at a Tuesday press conference, DeSantis did not mention Trump by name but referred to the massive wins by Republicans in Florida compared with elections in other states.

• "We've focused on results and leadership, and at the end of the day, I would just tell people to go check out the scoreboard from last Tuesday night," he said, per the Sun-Sentinel.