What Happened Next: The Evening Led By Donkeys Projected Pictures Featuring Trump and Epstein on to Windsor Castle
When plans were revealed for Donald Trump’s second state visit, complete with a Windsor Castle banquet on September 17th, 2025, the activist collective Led By Donkeys was determined to ensure it did not go unprotested. The gesture of rolling out the red carpet seemed especially servile. Their subsequent art-activist event proceeded like clockwork.
A Provocative Film
Activists created a nine-minute film exploring the connections with notorious figure Jeffrey Epstein. It concluded: “The commander-in-chief of the United States was a long-time close friend of America’s most notorious sex offender. He’s alleged to be referenced, repeatedly, in the files from the criminal probe into Epstein … Now that very man, Donald Trump, is sleeping here in Windsor Castle.” (For his part, Trump has stated he fell out with Epstein long prior to Epstein’s first arrest and has consistently denied any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein.)
The Setup
The activists had secured rooms in the nearby Harte and Garter hotel, rooms advertised with views of the castle and, more crucially, superior castle views, according to a co-founder, Ben Stewart. Their equipment included a high-lumen 32,000-lumen projector. To broadcast sound, Stewart placed a Bluetooth speaker, concealed within a box of cereal, atop a garbage can outside.
The world’s media had gathered, their gaze fixed at the castle, becoming bored awaiting Trump's arrival. The film, however, spread rapidly globally. “Although the still pictures of Epstein and Trump spread like wildfire online,” Stewart notes, “I doubt that persuades anyone of anything – it simply makes Trump uneasy. Our documentary gives people something tangible to share, saying: ‘This is something really serious to examine here.’ We took a piece of guerrilla journalism about Trump and Epstein, and it was seen by millions.”
The Reveal
The film began with the official Windsor Castle logo. “Projecting onto the castle's round tower requires some technical calibration,” Stewart states. “First appeared the royal coat of arms. The police likely thought: ‘Ah, that’s nice – a royal tribute,’ and suddenly a massive image of Jeffrey Epstein materializes. This electric jolt goes through the police in fluorescent jackets nearby, and they raced into the hotel.”
Not Their First Protest
This was not their inaugural action; nor was it their first action targeting Trump. In 2018, during his time with Greenpeace, Stewart had flown a motorized paraglider over the resort where the president was staying during a visit to Turnberry. A year later, officers warned him that any repeat, they couldn’t guarantee.
Confrontation with Police
But, the group's creators weren't overly concerned about arrest. “My nervous energy is channelled into wanting the action to succeed,” says Oliver Knowles, another co-founder. “Once the police arrive, the message is already out.” Officers was rapid, reaching the hotel in under three minutes, “really pumped up”, Knowles recalls. “Wearing jumpsuits and caps. They had located the culprits. They came roaring up the stairs; prepared; they were on a mission to safeguard the guest. Thankfully, no guns. But they were very adrenalised when they entered the room. I told them: ‘Let’s keep this really calm.’”
Stalling a large number of police officers for six minutes. It helped that they were unsure under what law to charge anyone. Upon finally entering the room, “one officer started reading a clause of the Town and Country Planning Act, which another officer asked him to stop because it wasn’t right.” Knowles and three additional activists were then arrested for malicious communication, a stalking law. “and it’s very specific: it’s designed to deal with a serious offence. Applying it to an act of journalism, displayed on a wall, to protect the reputation of the president, appeared contrary to the intent of the legislation,” Stewart remarks pointedly. As his colleagues were arrested, he melted into the crowd, then soon after was on a train out of Windsor, calling lawyers.
An Ironic Interrogation
Some time that night, as the detainees sat in cells at Maidenhead police station, police re-entered and re-arrested them, this time for causing a public nuisance, having decided more likely to succeed. During interrogation, the sole available interrogators were from the child protection unit – a twist that was not lost on anyone, given the subject matter of the protest involved alleged sex offender. Knowles and his associates just answered all queries with: “No comment.” A few minutes into the interview, police presented a photo: “They asked, did you remove the drawer from this nightstand?’ ‘No comment.’ ‘Sir, do you know anyone who may have had cause to take the drawer?’ ‘No comment.’ I knew what was coming: an image of a large projector, secured to four drawers. Then, the detectives were finding it hard to maintain their composure.”
The Outcome
Just over a month later, all charges were dropped.