The Aftermath: The Evening The Activist Group Beamed Images of Trump and Epstein onto Windsor Castle
When the announcement was made for the former president's second state visit, complete with a Windsor Castle banquet on 17 September 2025, the activist collective known as Led By Donkeys was determined not to let it pass unprotested. The act of rolling out the red carpet seemed especially servile. Their subsequent art-activist event proceeded like clockwork.
A Provocative Film
Activists created a nine-minute film exploring Donald Trump’s relationship with notorious figure Jeffrey Epstein. It concluded: “The president of the United States was a long-time close friend of the nation's most infamous sex offender. He’s alleged to be mentioned, numerous times, in documents related to the criminal probe into that individual … And now that president, Donald Trump, is sleeping here in Windsor Castle.” (In response, Trump maintains he fell out with Epstein long prior to Epstein’s initial legal troubles and repeatedly refuted all allegations in relation to Epstein.)
Preparations and Execution
The activists 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 powerful 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, their gaze fixed at the castle, becoming bored awaiting Trump's arrival. Their film, spread rapidly everywhere. “Although photographs of Epstein and Trump spread like wildfire online,” Stewart notes, “I’m not sure that persuades anyone of anything – it just makes Trump uneasy. The film we made gives people something tangible to share, implying: ‘This is something significant to examine here.’ We took a piece of guerrilla journalism about Trump and Epstein, and it was viewed 20m times.”
The Moment of Projection
It started with the recognizable Windsor Castle logo. “Projecting onto the castle's round tower needs a little bit of mapping,” Stewart explains. “So there’s this royal crest. Officers are thinking: ‘Ah, that’s nice – the royal family,’ and then abruptly a massive image of Jeffrey Epstein appears. This electric jolt goes through the police in fluorescent jackets 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 had flown a motorized paraglider over the resort where the then-president was staying during a visit to Turnberry. The following year, police visited him that if he tried again, his safety wasn't assured.
Confrontation with Police
However, the group's creators weren't especially worried about detainment. “My nervous energy is channelled into ensuring the action to succeed,” says Oliver Knowles, another co-founder. “By the time the police arrive, the die is cast.” The police response was swift, reaching the hotel within three minutes, highly agitated, he remembers. “They were in tactical gear and caps. They’d finally found the culprits. They came roaring up the stairs; prepared; tasked to safeguard the guest. Fortunately, no firearms. But they were very adrenalised when they entered the room. I told them: ‘We should keep this really calm.’”
Delaying 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 section of the Town and Country Planning Act, before another asked 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: its purpose is to deal with a serious offence. To throw it at an act of journalism, displayed on a wall, to protect the reputation of the president, seemed contrary to the intent of the legislation,” Stewart says archly. As his colleagues were arrested, he melted into the crowd, then soon after was on a train leaving Windsor, contacting legal counsel.
An Ironic Interrogation
Later that night, as the detainees were in the cells at Maidenhead police station, officers came in and arrested them again, this time for causing a public nuisance, having decided more likely to succeed. When they came to be questioned, the sole available interrogators were from the child protection unit – a twist that was palpable, given the subject matter of the protest involved alleged sex offender. Knowles and his associates responded to all queries with: “I have no comment.” Shortly after starting the interview, police presented a photo: “They asked, did you remove the drawer from this nightstand?’ ‘No comment.’ ‘Mr Knowles, do you know anybody else who may have had cause to take the drawer?’ ‘No comment.’ I knew what was coming: an image of a large projector, secured to four drawers. Then, the detectives were finding it hard to keep a straight face.”
The Final Result
A little more than one month later, all charges was dismissed.
