Read Joe Biden's July 4 Speech in Full—'Our Independence From This Virus'

President Joe Biden gave an emphatic address from the South Lawn of the White House on July 4 to commemorate U.S. independence and mark the country's progress in battling the pandemic.

The focus of much of Biden's televised address revolved around a push for vaccination against COVID-19 as the president warned that the virus had not yet been "vanquished" and called getting vaccinated "the most patriotic thing" Americans could do.

"COVID-19 has not been vanquished. We all know powerful variants have emerged, like the Delta variant. The best defense against these variants is to get vaccinated. My fellow Americans, it's the most patriotic thing you can do [...] Do it now, for yourself, for your loved ones, for your community, and for your country," he urged.

Biden ended on an optimistic note, promising Americans they would see their "brightest future" under his leadership.