Republican Sen. Ted Cruz told people to "stop the hate" after U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams was criticized about the language that he used to describe his family.

In a tweet sent during Friday's White House Coronavirus Task Force briefing, Cruz demanded to know "what the hell is wrong w/ MSM" after PBS reporter Yamiche Alcindor confronted Adams over using terms such as "Big Momma," claiming "some people online" found it to be offensive.

"Imagine: you’re a professional NPR reporter, you have an opportunity to ask the US Surgeon General a Q—in the midst of a global pandemic w/ over 100k fatalities—and you ask "'many people' are offended by what you call your grandmother,'" Cruz tweeted. "Seriously, what the hell is wrong w/ MSM?!?"

Imagine: you’re a professional NPR reporter, you have an opportunity to ask the US Surgeon General a Q—in the midst of a global pandemic w/ over 100k fatalities—and you ask “‘many people’ are offended by what you call your grandmother.” Seriously, what the hell is wrong w/ MSM?!? https://t.co/bbOA3VtiWW — Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) April 11, 2020

Alcindor's question referenced Adams's March 14 call to abide by social distancing guidelines that were imposed "to protect your nana" and came after Adams detailed how the coronavirus affects minority groups at a higher rate.

The exchange reflected a growing frustration between the White House Coronavirus Task Force and some members of the media, some of whom have suggested that President Trump had "muzzled" Dr. Anthony Fauci.

In a follow-up tweet, Cruz pointed out that Adams, who is African American, was being disparaged online by "white liberals" who accuse the surgeon general of being an Uncle Tom.

"The Surgeon General is a highly accomplished African-American physician, and so many white liberals are throwing racial epithets at him that 'Uncle Tom' is trending," tweeted Cruz. "STOP THE HATE NOW."