The Unfolding Events: The Night Led By Donkeys Beamed Pictures Featuring Trump and Epstein onto Windsor Castle

When the announcement was made for the former president's second state visit, including a royal dinner at Windsor 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 unfolded with precision.

A Deliberate Message

Activists created a nine-minute film detailing the connections with notorious figure Jeffrey Epstein. Its ending stated: “The commander-in-chief of the United States is alleged to have been a longstanding associate of the nation's most infamous sex offender. His name is said to be referenced, repeatedly, in documents from the criminal probe into that individual … And now that president, Donald Trump, is a guest in Windsor Castle.” (In response, Trump has stated he ended his friendship with Epstein long prior to Epstein’s first arrest and repeatedly refuted all allegations in relation to Epstein.)

Preparations and Execution

The activists had booked rooms in the nearby Harte and Garter hotel, which boast “castle view” and, even more helpfully, “castle view superior”, according to group founder, Ben Stewart. Their equipment included a powerful 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. Their film, gained traction everywhere. “Although photographs of Epstein and Trump spread like wildfire online,” Stewart says, “I’m not sure that convinces people of anything – it just makes Trump uncomfortable. The film we made provides viewers a social object to share, implying: ‘There’s something significant to look at here.’ It was an act of activist journalism about Trump and Epstein, and it was seen 20m times.”

The Reveal

It started with the recognizable Windsor Castle logo. “It requires the castle's round tower needs some technical calibration,” Stewart explains. “So there’s the royal coat of arms. The police likely thought: ‘Ah, that’s nice – the royal family,’ and suddenly a massive image of Jeffrey Epstein materializes. This electric jolt goes through the police in fluorescent jackets nearby, and they 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. In 2018, during his time with Greenpeace, Stewart had flown a motorized paraglider near the hotel where the president was staying during a visit to Turnberry. A year later, police visited him that any repeat, his safety wasn't assured.

Confrontation with Police

But, the group's creators weren't especially worried about detainment. “My nervous energy goes into ensuring the action to succeed,” notes Oliver Knowles, a fellow founder. “By the time the police arrive, the message is already out.” Officers was swift, reaching the hotel in under three minutes, “really pumped up”, he remembers. “They were in jumpsuits and caps. They had located the culprits. They came roaring up the stairs; prepared; they were on a mission to protect the president. Thankfully, no guns. But they were extremely tense upon entering the room. I had to say: ‘We should keep this really calm.’”

Stalling a large number of police officers for six minutes. It helped that officers were unsure which law to charge anyone. Upon finally entering the room, “one officer began reciting a section of the Town and Country Planning Act, which another officer told him to stop because it wasn’t right.” Knowles and three additional team members were then arrested for malicious communication, a law related to harassment. “The law is precise: it’s designed to address a serious offence. To throw it at an act of journalism, projected on to a wall, in defense of the reputation of the president, seemed contrary to the intent of the legislation,” Stewart remarks pointedly. As his colleagues were arrested, he melted into the crowd, then soon after boarded a train out of Windsor, calling lawyers.

A Second Arrest and Questioning

Later that night, as the detainees sat in cells at Maidenhead police station, police re-entered and arrested them again, this time for causing a public nuisance, deeming it more likely to succeed. During interrogation, the sole available interrogators belonged to the child protection unit – an irony that was palpable, given the focus 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 photo: “They asked, did you remove the drawer from this bedside table?’ ‘No comment.’ ‘Mr Knowles, do you know anybody else who may have had reason to remove the drawer?’ ‘No comment.’ I anticipated the next move: a picture of a giant projector, ratchet-strapped to four drawers. At that point, the officers struggled to maintain their composure.”

The Outcome

Just over a month later, every charge was dismissed.