The Aftermath: The Evening Led By Donkeys Projected Pictures Featuring Trump and Epstein onto Windsor Castle
When plans were revealed for Donald Trump’s second state visit, complete with a Windsor Castle banquet on September 17th, 2025, the protest group Led By Donkeys was determined not to let it pass without a statement. The gesture of offering a lavish welcome was viewed as especially servile. Their next creative protest unfolded like clockwork.
A Deliberate Message
Activists created a nine-minute film exploring Donald Trump’s relationship with the late financier Jeffrey Epstein. It concluded: “The commander-in-chief of the United States is alleged to have been a longstanding associate of America’s most notorious sex offender. He’s alleged to be mentioned, numerous times, in the files from the criminal probe into that individual … And now that very man, Donald Trump, is sleeping here within Windsor Castle.” (For his part, Trump has stated he fell out with Epstein years before Epstein’s first arrest and has consistently denied all allegations concerning Epstein.)
Preparations and Execution
The group had secured rooms in the adjacent Harte and Garter hotel, which boast views of the castle and, more crucially, superior castle views, said group founder, Ben Stewart. Their equipment included a high-lumen 32,000-lumen projector. For audio, Stewart placed a Bluetooth speaker, hidden within a box of cereal, atop a garbage can outside.
International press had gathered, their gaze fixed at the castle, growing restless awaiting Trump's arrival. Their film, gained traction everywhere. “While photographs of Epstein and Trump went viral online,” Stewart notes, “I’m not sure that persuades anyone of anything – it simply makes Trump uncomfortable. The film we made gives people something tangible to share, implying: ‘There’s something significant to look at here.’ It was a piece of guerrilla journalism about Trump and Epstein, and it was seen 20m times.”
The Reveal
The film began with the official Windsor Castle logo. “Projecting onto a cylindrical building needs a little bit of mapping,” Stewart explains. “First appeared this royal crest. The police are thinking: ‘How pleasant – the royal family,’ and then abruptly a great big picture of Jeffrey Epstein materializes. A wave of shock passed through the officers nearby, and the police all pile into the hotel.”
Not Their First Protest
It wasn't the group’s first rodeo; it wasn’t even their first effort against Trump. Back in 2018, during his time with Greenpeace, Stewart had flown a paraglider near the hotel where the then-president was staying during a visit to Turnberry. The following year, officers warned him that any repeat, his safety wasn't assured.
Confrontation with Police
However, the group's creators weren't especially worried about arrest. “My nervous energy goes into wanting the protest works,” notes Oliver Knowles, another co-founder. “Once the police arrive, the message is already out.” The police response was rapid, arriving in the lobby within three minutes, highly agitated, Knowles recalls. “Wearing tactical gear and caps. They’d finally found the culprits. They came roaring up the stairs; prepared; they were on a mission to protect the president. Thankfully, no firearms. But they were very adrenalised when they entered the room. I had to say: ‘We should keep this calm.’”
Stalling multiple police officers for six minutes. It helped that officers didn’t know under what law to charge anyone. Upon finally entering the room, “a policeman started reading a clause of the Town and Country Planning Act, which another officer told him to stop as it was incorrect.” Knowles and three other activists were then arrested for malicious communication, a stalking law. “The law is precise: it’s designed to deal with a really concerning offence. Applying it to an act of journalism, displayed on a wall, in defense of the reputation of the president, seemed against the spirit of the legislation,” Stewart says archly. As his colleagues were arrested, he slipped away, then soon after was on a train out of Windsor, contacting legal counsel.
An Ironic Interrogation
Later in the middle of the night, while the activists sat in cells at Maidenhead police station, police re-entered and arrested them again, now for causing a public nuisance, deeming it more likely to succeed. During interrogation, the sole available interrogators belonged to the child protection squad – an irony that was palpable, given the subject matter of the protest involved alleged sex offender. The activists responded to all queries with: “I have no comment.” Shortly after starting the interview, police presented a photograph: “‘Mr Knowles, did you remove the drawer from this nightstand?’ ‘No comment.’ ‘Sir, do you know anyone who may have had reason to remove the drawer?’ ‘No comment.’ I knew what was coming: an image of a giant projector, secured to several drawers. At that point, the officers struggled to maintain their composure.”
The Final Result
Just over a month later, every charge were dropped.