🔗 Share this article The Aftermath: The Evening Led By Donkeys Projected Images of Trump and Epstein on to Windsor Castle When plans were revealed for Donald Trump’s second state visit, including a royal dinner at Windsor on September 17th, 2025, the protest group known as Led By Donkeys was determined to ensure it did not go unprotested. The act of rolling out the red carpet seemed especially servile. Their next creative protest unfolded with precision. 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 was a longstanding associate 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 Epstein … Now that president, Donald Trump, is a guest in Windsor Castle.” (In response, Trump maintains he ended his friendship with Epstein long prior to Epstein’s first arrest and repeatedly refuted all allegations concerning 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, “castle view superior”, said group founder, Ben Stewart. Their equipment included a high-lumen projector. To broadcast sound, Stewart positioned a wireless speaker, concealed inside a cereal box, on top of a garbage can outside. International press had gathered, their gaze fixed at the castle, becoming bored as Trump was delayed. The film, however, spread rapidly everywhere. “While the still pictures of Epstein and Trump spread like wildfire online,” Stewart notes, “I’m not sure that persuades anyone of anything – it simply makes Trump uncomfortable. The film we made provides viewers something tangible to share, saying: ‘There’s something really serious to look at here.’ We took a piece of guerrilla journalism about Trump and Epstein, and it was viewed 20m times.” The Moment of Projection The film began with the recognizable Windsor Castle logo. “It requires the castle's round tower needs some technical calibration,” Stewart explains. “First appeared this royal crest. Officers likely thought: ‘Ah, that’s nice – a royal tribute,’ and then abruptly a great big picture of Jeffrey Epstein materializes. A wave of shock goes through the police in fluorescent jackets around me, and the police raced into the hotel.” A History of Activism It wasn't their inaugural action; it wasn’t even their first effort targeting Trump. In 2018, during his time with Greenpeace, Stewart piloted a motorized paraglider over the hotel where the president was staying in Scotland. A year later, officers warned him that any repeat, his safety wasn't assured. The Arrests But, the activists weren't overly concerned about detainment. “My nervous energy is channelled into ensuring the protest works,” says Oliver Knowles, another co-founder. “Once the police arrive, the die is cast.” Officers was swift, arriving in the lobby within three minutes, “really pumped up”, Knowles recalls. “They were in jumpsuits and baseball caps. They had located the culprits. They charged up the stairs; they were briefed; tasked to protect the president. Fortunately, no firearms. But they were very adrenalised upon entering the room. I told them: ‘We should keep this calm.’” Stalling a large number of police officers is a long time. The fact that they didn’t know which law to make arrests. When they finally entered the room, “a policeman started reading a clause of the Town and Country Planning Act, which another officer told him to stop as it was incorrect.” Knowles and three other activists were subsequently detained for malicious communications, a stalking law. “The law is precise: it’s designed to deal with a really concerning offence. To throw it at 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 says archly. As his colleagues were arrested, he slipped away, then soon after boarded a train out of Windsor, calling lawyers. A Second Arrest and Questioning Some time in the middle of the night, as the detainees sat in cells at Maidenhead police station, officers came in and re-arrested them, now for causing a public nuisance, deeming it a stronger charge. When they came to be questioned, the only officers available were from the child protection squad – a twist that was not lost on anyone, given the focus of the protest involved Jeffrey Epstein. The activists just answered all queries with: “I have no comment.” A few minutes into the interview, the officers slid over a photograph: “‘Mr Knowles, did you remove the drawer from this nightstand?’ ‘No comment.’ ‘Sir, do you know anybody else who may have had reason to remove the drawer?’ ‘No comment.’ I knew what was coming: an image of a large projector, secured to several drawers. Then, the officers were finding it hard to keep a straight face.” The Outcome Just over a month later, all charges was dismissed.
When plans were revealed for Donald Trump’s second state visit, including a royal dinner at Windsor on September 17th, 2025, the protest group known as Led By Donkeys was determined to ensure it did not go unprotested. The act of rolling out the red carpet seemed especially servile. Their next creative protest unfolded with precision. 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 was a longstanding associate 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 Epstein … Now that president, Donald Trump, is a guest in Windsor Castle.” (In response, Trump maintains he ended his friendship with Epstein long prior to Epstein’s first arrest and repeatedly refuted all allegations concerning 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, “castle view superior”, said group founder, Ben Stewart. Their equipment included a high-lumen projector. To broadcast sound, Stewart positioned a wireless speaker, concealed inside a cereal box, on top of a garbage can outside. International press had gathered, their gaze fixed at the castle, becoming bored as Trump was delayed. The film, however, spread rapidly everywhere. “While the still pictures of Epstein and Trump spread like wildfire online,” Stewart notes, “I’m not sure that persuades anyone of anything – it simply makes Trump uncomfortable. The film we made provides viewers something tangible to share, saying: ‘There’s something really serious to look at here.’ We took a piece of guerrilla journalism about Trump and Epstein, and it was viewed 20m times.” The Moment of Projection The film began with the recognizable Windsor Castle logo. “It requires the castle's round tower needs some technical calibration,” Stewart explains. “First appeared this royal crest. Officers likely thought: ‘Ah, that’s nice – a royal tribute,’ and then abruptly a great big picture of Jeffrey Epstein materializes. A wave of shock goes through the police in fluorescent jackets around me, and the police raced into the hotel.” A History of Activism It wasn't their inaugural action; it wasn’t even their first effort targeting Trump. In 2018, during his time with Greenpeace, Stewart piloted a motorized paraglider over the hotel where the president was staying in Scotland. A year later, officers warned him that any repeat, his safety wasn't assured. The Arrests But, the activists weren't overly concerned about detainment. “My nervous energy is channelled into ensuring the protest works,” says Oliver Knowles, another co-founder. “Once the police arrive, the die is cast.” Officers was swift, arriving in the lobby within three minutes, “really pumped up”, Knowles recalls. “They were in jumpsuits and baseball caps. They had located the culprits. They charged up the stairs; they were briefed; tasked to protect the president. Fortunately, no firearms. But they were very adrenalised upon entering the room. I told them: ‘We should keep this calm.’” Stalling a large number of police officers is a long time. The fact that they didn’t know which law to make arrests. When they finally entered the room, “a policeman started reading a clause of the Town and Country Planning Act, which another officer told him to stop as it was incorrect.” Knowles and three other activists were subsequently detained for malicious communications, a stalking law. “The law is precise: it’s designed to deal with a really concerning offence. To throw it at 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 says archly. As his colleagues were arrested, he slipped away, then soon after boarded a train out of Windsor, calling lawyers. A Second Arrest and Questioning Some time in the middle of the night, as the detainees sat in cells at Maidenhead police station, officers came in and re-arrested them, now for causing a public nuisance, deeming it a stronger charge. When they came to be questioned, the only officers available were from the child protection squad – a twist that was not lost on anyone, given the focus of the protest involved Jeffrey Epstein. The activists just answered all queries with: “I have no comment.” A few minutes into the interview, the officers slid over a photograph: “‘Mr Knowles, did you remove the drawer from this nightstand?’ ‘No comment.’ ‘Sir, do you know anybody else who may have had reason to remove the drawer?’ ‘No comment.’ I knew what was coming: an image of a large projector, secured to several drawers. Then, the officers were finding it hard to keep a straight face.” The Outcome Just over a month later, all charges was dismissed.