The Unfolding Events: The Night Led By Donkeys Projected Images of Trump and Epstein onto Windsor Castle
When plans were revealed for Donald Trump’s second state visit, including a Windsor Castle banquet on September 17th, 2025, the activist collective Led By Donkeys was determined not to let it pass unprotested. The act of offering a lavish welcome was viewed as especially servile. Their next creative protest unfolded with precision.
A Provocative Film
The group produced 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 America’s most notorious child sex trafficker. He’s alleged to be referenced, numerous times, in the files from the criminal probe into that individual … And now that very man, Donald Trump, is a guest in Windsor Castle.” (In response, Trump maintains he ended his friendship with Epstein years before Epstein’s first arrest and repeatedly refuted any wrongdoing concerning Epstein.)
The Setup
The activists had booked rooms in the adjacent Harte and Garter hotel, which boast “castle view” and, more crucially, “castle view superior”, according to a co-founder, Ben Stewart. They utilized a powerful 32,000-lumen projector. For audio, Stewart placed a Bluetooth speaker, hidden within a box of cereal, atop a garbage can outside.
The world’s media had gathered, staring at the castle, becoming bored awaiting Trump's arrival. Their film, spread rapidly everywhere. “Although photographs of Epstein and Trump went viral online,” Stewart says, “I doubt that persuades anyone of anything – it simply makes Trump uneasy. Our documentary gives people a social object to share, saying: ‘There’s something significant to look at here.’ It was an act of activist journalism about Trump and Epstein, and it was seen by millions.”
The Moment of Projection
It started with the recognizable Windsor Castle logo. “Projecting onto a cylindrical building needs some technical calibration,” Stewart explains. “So there’s this royal crest. Officers are thinking: ‘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.”
A History of Activism
This was not the group’s first rodeo; nor was it their first effort targeting Trump. In 2018, during his time with Greenpeace, Stewart had flown a paraglider over the resort where the president was staying during a visit to Turnberry. The following year, officers warned him that any repeat, they couldn’t guarantee.
Confrontation with Police
However, the activists weren't especially worried about detainment. “All my anxiety 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 rapid, arriving in the lobby within three minutes, “really pumped up”, he remembers. “Wearing jumpsuits and caps. They had located some protesters. They came roaring 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: ‘Let’s keep this really calm.’”
Delaying a large number of police officers for six minutes. The fact that officers didn’t know which law to charge anyone. Upon finally entering the room, “a policeman began reciting a clause of the Town and Country Planning Act, which another officer asked him to stop because it wasn’t right.” Knowles and three additional activists were subsequently detained for malicious communications, a law related to harassment. “The law is precise: it’s designed to address a serious offence. To throw it at an act of journalism, projected on to a wall, to protect the reputation of the president, appeared against the spirit of the legislation,” Stewart says archly. While the others were detained, he slipped away, shortly thereafter was on a train leaving Windsor, contacting legal counsel.
A Second Arrest and Questioning
Some time in the middle of the night, while the activists were in the cells at Maidenhead police station, officers came in and re-arrested them, this time for causing a public nuisance, deeming it a stronger charge. During interrogation, the only officers available were from the child protection unit – a twist which was not lost on anyone, given the focus of the protest concerned Jeffrey Epstein. The activists responded to all queries with: “No comment.” Shortly after starting the interview, police presented a photograph: “‘Mr Knowles, did you remove the drawer from this nightstand?’ ‘No comment.’ ‘Mr Knowles, do you know anybody else who may have had reason to remove the drawer?’ ‘No comment.’ I anticipated the next move: an image of a giant projector, secured to several drawers. At that point, the officers struggled to maintain their composure.”
The Outcome
A little more than a month later, every charge was dismissed.
