The Aftermath: The Night Led By Donkeys Beamed Images of Trump and Epstein onto Windsor Castle
When the announcement was made for the former president's upcoming official trip, complete with a Windsor Castle banquet on September 17th, 2025, the activist collective known as Led By Donkeys felt compelled not to let it pass unprotested. The gesture of rolling out the red carpet seemed particularly craven. Their next creative protest unfolded with precision.
A Deliberate Message
The group produced a nine-minute film exploring the connections with notorious figure Jeffrey Epstein. It concluded: “The commander-in-chief of the United States was a longstanding associate of America’s most notorious child sex trafficker. His name is said to be mentioned, numerous times, in documents related to the investigation into Epstein … And now that president, Donald Trump, is a guest in Windsor Castle.” (In response, Trump has stated he ended his friendship with Epstein years before Epstein’s first arrest and has consistently denied all allegations in relation to Epstein.)
Preparations and Execution
The group had secured rooms in the nearby Harte and Garter hotel, which boast views of the castle and, more crucially, superior castle views, said group founder, Ben Stewart. They utilized a powerful projector. To broadcast sound, Stewart positioned a wireless speaker, concealed inside a cereal box, atop a public rubbish bin outside.
The world’s media had gathered, staring at the castle, growing restless awaiting Trump's arrival. Their film, gained traction everywhere. “While the still pictures of Epstein and Trump spread like wildfire online,” Stewart says, “I doubt that persuades anyone of anything – it simply makes Trump uneasy. Our documentary provides viewers a social object to share, saying: ‘There’s something really serious to examine here.’ We took a piece of guerrilla journalism about Trump and Epstein, and it was viewed by millions.”
The Reveal
The film began with the official Windsor Castle logo. “Projecting onto a cylindrical building needs some technical calibration,” Stewart states. “First appeared this royal crest. Officers likely thought: ‘How pleasant – the royal family,’ and suddenly a great big picture of Jeffrey Epstein materializes. This electric jolt passed through the police in fluorescent jackets nearby, and the police all pile into the hotel.”
Not Their First Protest
This was not the group’s first rodeo; nor was it their first action against Trump. In 2018, while working for Greenpeace, Stewart had flown a paraglider near the resort where the then-president was staying in Scotland. A year later, police visited him that any repeat, his safety wasn't assured.
Confrontation with Police
However, the group's creators were not overly concerned about arrest. “All my anxiety is channelled into wanting the protest works,” notes Oliver Knowles, a fellow founder. “Once the police arrive, the message is already out.” Officers was swift, reaching the hotel in under three minutes, highly agitated, he remembers. “They were in jumpsuits and baseball caps. They’d finally found some protesters. They came roaring up the stairs; they were briefed; tasked to protect the president. Fortunately, no firearms. But they were extremely tense upon entering the room. I had to say: ‘Let’s keep this really calm.’”
Stalling a large number of police officers for six minutes. The fact that officers were unsure under what law to charge anyone. Upon finally entering the room, “one officer began reciting a clause of the Town and Country Planning Act, which another officer asked him to stop as it was incorrect.” Knowles and three other team members were subsequently detained for malicious communication, a stalking law. “The law is precise: it’s designed to address a serious offence. Applying it to an act of journalism, projected on to a wall, in defense of the reputation of the president, appeared against the spirit of the legislation,” Stewart says archly. As his colleagues were arrested, he melted into the crowd, shortly thereafter boarded a train leaving Windsor, contacting legal counsel.
An Ironic Interrogation
Some time that night, as the detainees sat in cells at Maidenhead police station, officers came in and re-arrested them, now for public nuisance, having decided a stronger charge. During interrogation, the only officers available were from the child protection squad – a twist which was palpable, given the focus of the protest concerned Jeffrey Epstein. The activists responded to every question with: “I have no comment.” A few minutes into the interview, police presented a photograph: “‘Mr Knowles, did you take the drawer from this bedside table?’ ‘No comment.’ ‘Mr Knowles, do you know anyone who may have had cause to take the drawer?’ ‘No comment.’ I knew what was coming: a picture of a giant projector, ratchet-strapped to four drawers. At that point, the officers struggled to keep a straight face.”
The Final Result
Just over one month later, every charge was dismissed.