The Aftermath: The Evening Led By Donkeys Beamed Pictures Featuring Trump and Epstein on to Windsor Castle
When plans were revealed for Donald Trump’s second state visit, complete with a Windsor Castle banquet on 17 September 2025, the protest group Led By Donkeys felt compelled to ensure it did not go unprotested. The act of rolling out the red carpet seemed particularly craven. Their subsequent creative protest unfolded like clockwork.
A Provocative Film
Activists created a nine-minute film detailing Donald Trump’s relationship with notorious figure Jeffrey Epstein. It concluded: “The commander-in-chief of the United States is alleged to have been a long-time close friend of the nation's most infamous child sex trafficker. His name is said to be referenced, numerous times, in the files related to the criminal probe into Epstein … And now that president, Donald Trump, is a guest within Windsor Castle.” (For his part, Trump maintains he fell out with Epstein years before Epstein’s first arrest and repeatedly refuted all allegations concerning Epstein.)
The Setup
The group had booked rooms in the adjacent Harte and Garter hotel, rooms advertised with views of the castle and, more crucially, superior castle views, said a co-founder, Ben Stewart. They utilized a powerful projector. For audio, Stewart positioned a Bluetooth speaker, concealed within a box of cereal, atop a garbage can outside.
International press was assembled, staring at the castle, becoming bored as Trump was delayed. The film, however, gained traction globally. “While the still pictures of Epstein and Trump spread like wildfire online,” Stewart says, “I doubt that persuades anyone of anything – it just makes Trump uncomfortable. The film we made gives people a social object to share, saying: ‘This is something significant to look at here.’ It was an act of activist journalism about Trump and Epstein, and it was viewed by millions.”
The Reveal
It started with the recognizable Windsor Castle logo. “It requires the castle's round tower requires some technical calibration,” Stewart explains. “First appeared the royal coat of arms. The police likely thought: ‘How pleasant – a royal tribute,’ and suddenly a great big picture of Jeffrey Epstein materializes. A wave of shock goes through the officers nearby, and the police all pile into the hotel.”
A History of Activism
It wasn't their inaugural action; nor was it their first action targeting Trump. In 2018, during his time with Greenpeace, Stewart had flown a motorized paraglider over the hotel where the president was staying during a visit to Turnberry. The following year, police visited him that any repeat, his safety wasn't assured.
The Arrests
But, the activists weren't overly concerned about detainment. “All my anxiety goes into ensuring the action to succeed,” says Oliver Knowles, another co-founder. “Once the police make the intervention, the message is already out.” The police response was rapid, reaching the hotel in under three minutes, highly agitated, Knowles recalls. “They were in tactical gear and baseball caps. They’d finally found some protesters. They came roaring up the stairs; they were briefed; they were on a mission to safeguard the guest. Thankfully, no guns. But they were very adrenalised when they entered the room. I told them: ‘We should keep this calm.’”
Stalling multiple police officers for six minutes. It helped that they didn’t know which law to make arrests. Upon finally entering the room, “a policeman 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 team members were then arrested for malicious communication, a law related to harassment. “and it’s very specific: its purpose is to deal with a really concerning offence. Applying it to an act of journalism, displayed on a wall, in defense of the reputation of the president, seemed contrary to the intent of the legislation,” Stewart remarks pointedly. While the others were detained, he melted into the crowd, then soon after was on a train leaving Windsor, contacting legal counsel.
An Ironic Interrogation
Later in the middle of the night, as the detainees were in the cells at Maidenhead police station, officers came in and re-arrested them, now for public nuisance, deeming it more likely to succeed. During interrogation, the only officers available were from the child protection squad – a twist which was palpable, given the subject matter of the protest involved Jeffrey Epstein. The activists just answered all queries with: “No comment.” A few minutes into the interview, police presented a photo: “‘Mr Knowles, did you take the drawer from this bedside table?’ ‘No comment.’ ‘Sir, do you know anyone who may have had cause to take the drawer?’ ‘No comment.’ I anticipated what was coming: a picture of a large projector, ratchet-strapped to several drawers. At that point, the detectives struggled to keep a straight face.”
The Final Result
A little more than one month later, every charge was dismissed.
