President Trump publicly expressed frustration with Fox News on Tuesday, marking a shift from his typical support for the network. The conflict stems from private complaints by Republican officials regarding how Fox News has covered Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate in Michigan.

According to reports, Republican strategists are concerned that the network’s coverage is softening El-Sayed’s image. The party’s current campaign strategy relies on framing El-Sayed as a far-left liberal who is out of step with mainstream voters. By providing him with a platform or neutral coverage, Republicans argue that Fox News is undermining their efforts to define his political identity.

El-Sayed, who is a critic of the Israeli government and would be the first Muslim elected to the U.S. Senate if successful, is currently locked in a competitive race against Republican former Representative Mike Rogers. While the Republican party views El-Sayed’s policy positions as extreme, the candidate has maintained a charismatic public profile that has kept the race tight according to recent polling. The public nature of Trump’s criticism highlights the internal tension between the former president and his preferred media outlet regarding the best strategy to defeat Democratic opponents in the upcoming election cycle.