“We didn’t have the kind of testing and tracing infrastructure that we needed [and] last but not least there’s been a lot of mixed messaging on masks and social distancing and so all of that has contributed to what I think is a perilous moment for our country,” he added.

Emanuel also asked Jha about President TrumpDonald John TrumpProtesters tear down statue of Christopher Columbus in Baltimore 'Independence Day' star Bill Pullman urges Americans to wear a 'freedom mask' in July 4 PSA Protesters burn American flag outside White House after Trump's July Fourth address MORE’s recent event at Mount Rushmore for the Fourth of July weekend, during which masks were optional and chairs were linked together.

“Outdoors is better than indoors, but my take is the president should stick with the science here and encourage people to wear masks, he can build in some social distancing … I’m perplexed why we’re not doing the things we can do pretty easily to lower the risk.”