The Aftermath: The Evening Led By Donkeys Beamed Images of Trump and Epstein on to Windsor Castle

When the announcement was made for the former president's upcoming official trip, complete with a royal dinner at Windsor on 17 September 2025, the protest group known as Led By Donkeys was determined to ensure it did not go without a statement. The gesture of offering a lavish welcome seemed especially servile. Their subsequent creative protest unfolded like clockwork.

A Provocative Film

Activists created a nine-minute film detailing Donald Trump’s relationship with the late financier 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, numerous times, in documents related to the investigation into that individual … And now that very man, Donald Trump, is a guest within Windsor Castle.” (In response, Trump maintains he fell out with Epstein years before Epstein’s first arrest and repeatedly refuted any wrongdoing concerning Epstein.)

The Setup

The activists had secured rooms in the nearby Harte and Garter hotel, which boast views of the castle and, more crucially, superior castle views, said a co-founder, Ben Stewart. They utilized a powerful 32,000-lumen projector. To broadcast sound, Stewart placed a wireless speaker, concealed within a box of cereal, atop a garbage can outside.

International press was assembled, staring at the castle, becoming bored as Trump was delayed. The film, however, gained traction globally. “Although photographs of Epstein and Trump spread like wildfire online,” Stewart says, “I’m not sure that convinces people of anything – it simply makes Trump uneasy. The film we made provides viewers something tangible to share, saying: ‘There’s something really serious to examine here.’ It was a piece of guerrilla journalism about Trump and Epstein, and it was seen 20m times.”

The Moment of Projection

It started with the official Windsor Castle logo. “Projecting onto the castle's round tower needs some technical calibration,” Stewart states. “First appeared this royal crest. The police are thinking: ‘How pleasant – a royal tribute,’ and then abruptly a great big picture of Jeffrey Epstein appears. This electric jolt goes through the officers around me, and the police all pile into the hotel.”

A History of Activism

This was not the group’s first rodeo; nor was it their first effort targeting Trump. Back in 2018, while working for Greenpeace, Stewart had flown a motorized paraglider over the resort where the then-president was staying during a visit to Turnberry. The following year, police visited him that if he tried again, his safety wasn't assured.

Confrontation with Police

However, the activists weren't especially worried about arrest. “My nervous energy goes into ensuring the action to succeed,” says 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, he remembers. “Wearing tactical gear and caps. They had located the culprits. They came roaring up the stairs; prepared; tasked to safeguard the guest. Thankfully, no guns. But they were extremely tense when they entered the room. I had to say: ‘Let’s keep this calm.’”

Stalling a large number of police officers is a long time. It helped that officers didn’t know under what law to make arrests. Upon finally entering the room, “one officer began reciting a section of the Town and Country Planning Act, which another officer asked him to stop because it wasn’t right.” Knowles and three other team members were subsequently detained for malicious communications, a law related to harassment. “and it’s very specific: its purpose is to address a serious offence. Applying it to a piece of journalism, displayed on a wall, to protect the reputation of the president, seemed against the spirit of the legislation,” Stewart says archly. While the others were detained, he melted into the crowd, shortly thereafter was on a train out of Windsor, calling lawyers.

A Second Arrest and Questioning

Some time that night, as the detainees sat in cells at Maidenhead police station, officers came in and arrested them again, now for causing a public nuisance, having decided a stronger charge. During interrogation, the sole available interrogators were from the child protection unit – a twist which was palpable, given the focus of the protest concerned Jeffrey Epstein. Knowles and his associates responded to all queries with: “No comment.” Shortly after starting the interview, police presented a photo: “They asked, did you take the drawer from this bedside table?’ ‘No comment.’ ‘Mr Knowles, do you know anyone who may have had reason to remove the drawer?’ ‘No comment.’ I knew the next move: an image of a large projector, ratchet-strapped to four drawers. Then, the detectives were finding it hard to maintain their composure.”

The Final Result

Just over one month later, every charge was dismissed.