Publix’s recent decision to shield the front page of The National Enquirer from public view in its stores is drawing fire from some Donald Trump supporters who claim the move is a political maneuver to hide favorable stories about the president-elect.

In a statement posted on its website, the grocery store chain said the decision to use white plastic covers to shield the tabloid was not in response to a "particular cover or any political views." Publix said the company has received continued complaints about the tabloid’s content.

The plastic "blinders" are commonly used by grocers to shield magazines with inappropriate pictures and language.

"Recently, due to continual complaints, Publix added The National Enquirer to the list of titles we permanently cover in our stores, Publix said in the statement posted on its website. "Please know that this decision was based solely on a long history of customer complaints regarding offensive and objectionable material, not in response to a particular cover or any political views."

But critics of the decision say the move came after the weekly publication featured Trump and his family on its cover several times in November and December.

Recent headlines on the Enquirer’s cover include: "Trump Takes Charge: Success in just 36 days" and "What America Doesn’t Know," a piece about the "new first family."

Trump is friends with the owner of the Enquirer — a relationship that raised questions during last year’s presidential campaign. Last year, Trump said the publication should be "very respected," adding that it deserved a Pulitzer Prize for its reporting.

Some Publix customers took to Twitter this week to sound off about the change.

"Is it true that Publix is covering magazines with Trump on cover? Shopped Publix for 50 years will have to switch stores if true," one shopper tweeted at the grocery store chain on Monday.

In a response on Twitter, Publix said the shields will be placed over the Enquirer’s front page ever week "regardless of what is on the cover."

Publix said that it occasionally receives customer complaints about "materials that contain objectionable print or photographs."

"It is our mission to do our very best to satisfy all Publix customers, but unfortunately in today’s complex world this is not always an easy task," Publix said in the statement on its website. "Some magazine titles have pushed the limits with pictures and occasional controversial, sexual and inflammatory words that result in significant customer concerns. When that occurs, we advise our stores to maintain a permanent cover over such publications."