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

When plans were revealed for the former president's second state visit, complete with a royal dinner at Windsor on 17 September 2025, the protest group Led By Donkeys felt compelled not to let it pass unprotested. The act of rolling out the red carpet was viewed as especially servile. Their next art-activist event proceeded like clockwork.

A Provocative Film

The group produced a short documentary exploring the connections with the late financier 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. He’s alleged to be mentioned, numerous times, in the files related to the criminal probe into Epstein … And now that very man, Donald Trump, is sleeping here in Windsor Castle.” (For his part, Trump has stated he fell out with Epstein years before Epstein’s first arrest and repeatedly refuted any wrongdoing concerning Epstein.)

Preparations and Execution

The activists had booked rooms in the adjacent Harte and Garter hotel, which boast “castle view” and, more crucially, superior castle views, said group founder, Ben Stewart. They utilized a high-lumen 32,000-lumen projector. To broadcast sound, Stewart positioned 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. The film, however, gained traction everywhere. “While photographs of Epstein and Trump went viral online,” Stewart says, “I’m not sure that convinces people of anything – it simply makes Trump uncomfortable. The film we made gives people a social object to share, saying: ‘This is something really serious to examine here.’ It was an act of activist 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 explains. “So there’s the royal coat of arms. The police are thinking: ‘How pleasant – a royal tribute,’ and then abruptly a great big picture of Jeffrey Epstein appears. A wave of shock goes through the officers nearby, and they all pile into the hotel.”

A History of Activism

This was not their inaugural action; nor was it their first effort against Trump. In 2018, during his time with Greenpeace, Stewart piloted a paraglider near the resort where the then-president was staying during a visit to Turnberry. A year later, police visited him that any repeat, they couldn’t guarantee.

The Arrests

But, the activists weren't overly concerned about detainment. “My nervous energy goes into ensuring the protest works,” says Oliver Knowles, a fellow founder. “By the time the police arrive, the message is already out.” The police response was rapid, arriving in the lobby in under three minutes, highly agitated, he remembers. “Wearing jumpsuits and baseball caps. They’d finally found the culprits. They came roaring up the stairs; prepared; tasked to safeguard the guest. Fortunately, no guns. But they were very adrenalised upon entering the room. I told them: ‘We should keep this really calm.’”

Delaying multiple police officers for six minutes. It helped that they didn’t know under what law to charge anyone. Upon finally entering the room, “a policeman started reading a section of the Town and Country Planning Act, before another told him to stop as it was incorrect.” Knowles and three other team members were subsequently detained for malicious communications, a stalking law. “and it’s very specific: its purpose is to address 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. While the others were detained, he slipped away, shortly thereafter boarded a train leaving Windsor, calling lawyers.

An Ironic Interrogation

Some time in the middle of the night, as the detainees were in the cells at Maidenhead police station, police re-entered and re-arrested them, this time for public nuisance, deeming it a stronger charge. During interrogation, the only officers available were from the child protection squad – a twist which was not lost on anyone, given the subject matter of the protest involved Jeffrey Epstein. Knowles and his associates just answered every question with: “No comment.” Shortly after starting the interview, the officers slid over a photo: “They asked, did you remove the drawer from this nightstand?’ ‘No comment.’ ‘Sir, do you know anybody else who may have had cause to take the drawer?’ ‘No comment.’ I anticipated what was coming: an image of a large projector, secured to four drawers. At that point, the officers were finding it hard to maintain their composure.”

The Final Result

Just over one month later, all charges was dismissed.