Former US soldier and perhaps the world's most famous whistleblower, Chelsea Manning, has landed in New Zealand, declaring that President Trump is "not unusual" in American politics.
Ms Manning was denied a visa to Australia, and the National Party said the same should happen here.
But she has pushed ahead with her plans to speak in Auckland.
"It's quite inspiring to be out here. I'm glad you all let me in," she said, speaking exclusively to 1 NEWS.
The divisive figure was caught releasing thousands of classified documents to Wikileaks in 2010. Among the leaks was vision showing the US military gunning down civilians in Iraq.
Ms Manning was sentenced to 35 years imprisonment for putting the United States' security at risk, but after seven years in jail, then-president Barack Obama released her.
"On a personal level I'm extremely thankful," Ms Manning said.
However, on a political level she said Mr Obama was a compromised leader.
And as for the current US leader, Ms Manning said, "I want to be clear on this, Donald Trump is not an aberration. He is not an abnormality. He is not unusual in American politics."
From Bradley Manning to Chelsea, she is now using her platform as a transgender advocate, taking a punt at politics herself, running for the US Senate to push for change.
"What we've seen is this dangerous trend over really more than a century of the presidency being unchecked, being allowed to have this gigantic executive branch with a military and police forces and intelligence."
The world's first openly transsexual member of parliament, Georgina Beyer, is standing right alongside Ms Manning.
"She luckily pushed through the hell she experienced, and that is a remarkable role model for many. And she's the new generation of trans person," Ms Beyer said.
Despite the huge personal toll of the past eight years, Ms Manning is living with no regrets.
This is who I am and this is what I do and this is what I believe in," she said.
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