The Unfolding Events: The Evening Led By Donkeys Beamed Images of Trump and Epstein onto Windsor Castle
When plans were revealed for Donald Trump’s upcoming official trip, including a royal dinner at Windsor on 17 September 2025, the activist collective Led By Donkeys was determined to ensure it did not go unprotested. The act of rolling out the red carpet seemed especially servile. Their subsequent creative protest unfolded like clockwork.
A Deliberate Message
Activists created a nine-minute film 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 long-time close friend of America’s most notorious sex offender. His name is said to be mentioned, numerous times, in documents related to the investigation into that individual … And now that president, Donald Trump, is a guest in 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 group had booked rooms in the nearby Harte and Garter hotel, rooms advertised with views of the castle and, more crucially, “castle view superior”, according to group founder, Ben Stewart. They utilized a powerful projector. For audio, Stewart placed a wireless speaker, hidden inside a cereal box, on top of a public rubbish bin outside.
The world’s media was assembled, their gaze fixed at the castle, becoming bored as Trump was delayed. The film, however, gained traction everywhere. “Although the still pictures of Epstein and Trump went viral online,” Stewart notes, “I doubt that persuades anyone of anything – it simply makes Trump uneasy. Our documentary gives people a social object 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 20m times.”
The Reveal
It started with the recognizable Windsor Castle logo. “Projecting onto the castle's round tower requires some technical calibration,” Stewart explains. “So there’s the royal coat of arms. Officers likely thought: ‘How pleasant – a royal tribute,’ and suddenly a great big picture of Jeffrey Epstein materializes. This electric jolt passed 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 action against Trump. In 2018, during his time with Greenpeace, Stewart piloted a paraglider over the hotel where the then-president was staying during a visit to Turnberry. A year later, police visited him that any repeat, they couldn’t guarantee.
Confrontation with Police
However, the activists weren't especially worried about detainment. “My nervous energy goes into ensuring the protest works,” says Oliver Knowles, another co-founder. “Once the police arrive, the message is already out.” Officers was rapid, reaching the hotel within three minutes, “really pumped up”, Knowles recalls. “They were in jumpsuits and caps. They had located the culprits. They charged up the stairs; they were briefed; tasked to protect the president. Fortunately, no guns. But they were very adrenalised upon entering the room. I told them: ‘We should keep this calm.’”
Delaying a large number of police officers for six minutes. The fact that they didn’t know under what law to make arrests. When they finally entered the room, “one officer started reading a section of the Town and Country Planning Act, before another asked him to stop as it was incorrect.” Knowles and three other activists were then arrested for malicious communications, a stalking law. “and it’s very specific: it’s designed to deal with a serious offence. To throw it at an act of journalism, projected on to a wall, in defense of the reputation of the president, appeared contrary to the intent of the legislation,” Stewart remarks pointedly. As his colleagues were arrested, he melted into the crowd, shortly thereafter boarded a train leaving Windsor, calling lawyers.
An Ironic Interrogation
Some time in the middle of the night, while the activists sat in cells at Maidenhead police station, police re-entered and re-arrested them, this time for causing a public nuisance, having decided more likely to succeed. When they came to be questioned, the sole available interrogators belonged to the child protection squad – an irony that was palpable, given the focus of the protest involved Jeffrey Epstein. Knowles and his associates just answered every question with: “No comment.” A few minutes into the interview, the officers slid over a photograph: “‘Mr Knowles, did you remove 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 giant projector, ratchet-strapped to several drawers. Then, the officers struggled to maintain their composure.”
The Outcome
Just over a month later, every charge was dismissed.
