The Unfolding Events: The Evening Led By Donkeys Beamed Images of Trump and Epstein onto Windsor Castle
When the announcement was made for the former president's second state visit, including a Windsor Castle banquet on 17 September 2025, the protest group known as Led By Donkeys felt compelled not to let it pass unprotested. The gesture of offering a lavish welcome seemed especially servile. Their subsequent creative protest proceeded with precision.
A Provocative Film
Activists created a short documentary exploring the connections with notorious figure Jeffrey Epstein. Its ending stated: “The commander-in-chief of the United States was a long-time close friend of the nation's most infamous sex offender. His name is said to be referenced, numerous times, in the files related to the investigation into that individual … Now that president, Donald Trump, is a guest in Windsor Castle.” (For his part, Trump has stated he fell out with Epstein years before Epstein’s first arrest and has consistently denied any wrongdoing concerning Epstein.)
The Setup
The activists had secured rooms in the adjacent Harte and Garter hotel, which boast views of the castle and, more crucially, “castle view superior”, said group founder, Ben Stewart. Their equipment included a high-lumen projector. For audio, Stewart positioned a Bluetooth speaker, concealed inside a cereal box, on top of a public rubbish bin outside.
International press was assembled, staring at the castle, becoming bored awaiting Trump's arrival. The film, however, spread rapidly everywhere. “Although the still pictures of Epstein and Trump went viral online,” Stewart says, “I doubt that persuades anyone of anything – it just makes Trump uneasy. The film we made gives people something tangible to share, implying: ‘There’s something significant to examine here.’ We took a piece of guerrilla journalism about Trump and Epstein, and it was seen by millions.”
The Moment of Projection
It started with the recognizable Windsor Castle logo. “It requires a cylindrical building needs some technical calibration,” Stewart explains. “First appeared the royal coat of arms. The police likely thought: ‘Ah, that’s nice – the royal family,’ and suddenly a great big picture of Jeffrey Epstein materializes. This electric jolt goes through the police in fluorescent jackets around me, and the police raced 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, while working for Greenpeace, Stewart piloted a motorized paraglider near the resort where the president was staying during a visit to Turnberry. The following year, police visited him that if he tried again, his safety wasn't assured.
The Arrests
However, the activists weren't overly concerned about detainment. “All my anxiety is channelled into wanting the protest works,” says Oliver Knowles, another co-founder. “By the time the police arrive, the die is cast.” Officers was swift, arriving in the lobby in under three minutes, highly agitated, Knowles recalls. “Wearing tactical gear and caps. They’d finally found the culprits. They charged up the stairs; they were briefed; tasked to protect the president. Thankfully, no firearms. But they were very adrenalised upon entering the room. I had to say: ‘We should keep this calm.’”
Delaying multiple police officers is a long time. It helped that they were unsure which law to charge anyone. Upon finally entering the room, “one officer started reading a section of the Town and Country Planning Act, which another officer asked him to stop as it was incorrect.” Knowles and three additional activists were then arrested for malicious communications, a law related to harassment. “and it’s very specific: its purpose is to deal with a serious offence. Applying it to an act of journalism, projected on to a wall, in defense of the reputation of the president, seemed against the spirit 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, contacting legal counsel.
An Ironic Interrogation
Later that night, while the activists sat in cells at Maidenhead police station, officers came in and arrested them again, this time for public nuisance, having decided more likely to succeed. During interrogation, the only officers available belonged to the child protection unit – an irony that was not lost on anyone, given the subject matter of the protest involved alleged sex offender. Knowles and his associates responded to every question with: “I have no comment.” Shortly after starting the interview, the officers slid over a photograph: “‘Mr Knowles, did you remove the drawer from this nightstand?’ ‘No comment.’ ‘Mr Knowles, do you know anyone who may have had cause to take the drawer?’ ‘No comment.’ I knew the next move: a picture of a giant projector, secured to four drawers. Then, the officers were finding it hard to keep a straight face.”
The Final Result
Just over a month later, all charges was dismissed.