The Unfolding Events: The Evening Led By Donkeys Beamed Images of Trump and Epstein onto Windsor Castle
When plans were revealed for the former president's upcoming official trip, including a royal dinner at Windsor on September 17th, 2025, the activist collective Led By Donkeys was determined not to let it pass unprotested. The gesture of offering a lavish welcome was viewed as particularly craven. Their subsequent art-activist event unfolded with precision.
A Deliberate Message
The group produced a short documentary exploring Donald Trump’s relationship with notorious figure Jeffrey Epstein. Its ending stated: “The president of the United States is alleged to have been a longstanding associate of America’s most notorious sex offender. His name is said to be mentioned, numerous times, in the files from the investigation into Epstein … Now that president, Donald Trump, is sleeping here in Windsor Castle.” (For his part, Trump maintains he fell out with Epstein years before Epstein’s initial legal troubles and repeatedly refuted any wrongdoing concerning Epstein.)
Preparations and Execution
The activists had secured rooms in the nearby Harte and Garter hotel, which boast “castle view” and, more crucially, superior castle views, according to group founder, Ben Stewart. They utilized a high-lumen 32,000-lumen projector. To broadcast sound, Stewart placed a wireless speaker, concealed within a box of cereal, on top of a public rubbish bin outside.
The world’s media had gathered, staring at the castle, growing restless as Trump was delayed. The film, however, gained traction globally. “While photographs of Epstein and Trump went viral online,” Stewart says, “I doubt that convinces people of anything – it just makes Trump uneasy. The film we made gives people something tangible to share, saying: ‘This is something really serious to look at here.’ It was a piece of guerrilla journalism about Trump and Epstein, and it was viewed 20m times.”
The Reveal
It started with the official Windsor Castle logo. “It requires the castle's round tower needs some technical calibration,” Stewart states. “So there’s the royal coat of arms. The police are thinking: ‘Ah, that’s nice – a royal tribute,’ and then abruptly a massive image of Jeffrey Epstein materializes. A wave of shock passed through the police in fluorescent jackets nearby, and they raced into the hotel.”
A History of Activism
It wasn't their inaugural action; nor was it their first action against Trump. In 2018, during his time with Greenpeace, Stewart piloted a motorized paraglider over the resort where the president was staying in Scotland. The following year, officers warned him that any repeat, his safety wasn't assured.
Confrontation with Police
But, the group's creators were not especially worried about arrest. “My nervous energy is channelled into wanting the action to succeed,” notes Oliver Knowles, another co-founder. “By the time the police arrive, the die is cast.” Officers was swift, reaching the hotel within three minutes, “really pumped up”, Knowles recalls. “They were in jumpsuits and baseball caps. They had located the culprits. They came roaring up the stairs; they were briefed; they were on a mission to protect the president. Fortunately, no firearms. But they were extremely tense when they entered the room. I had to say: ‘Let’s keep this calm.’”
Delaying a large number of police officers is a long time. It helped that officers didn’t know which law to make arrests. Upon finally entering the room, “one officer began reciting a section of the Town and Country Planning Act, before another told him to stop as it was incorrect.” Knowles and three additional activists were then arrested for malicious communications, a law related to harassment. “The law is precise: it’s designed to deal with a serious offence. Applying it to an act of journalism, projected on to a wall, to protect the reputation of the president, appeared against the spirit of the legislation,” Stewart remarks pointedly. As his colleagues were arrested, he slipped away, then soon after was on a train leaving Windsor, contacting legal counsel.
A Second Arrest and Questioning
Later in the middle of the night, as the detainees sat in cells at Maidenhead police station, police re-entered and arrested them again, now for public nuisance, having decided a stronger charge. During interrogation, the sole available interrogators were from the child protection unit – a twist that was palpable, given the focus of the protest concerned alleged sex offender. The activists responded to every question with: “No comment.” Shortly after starting the interview, the officers slid over a photo: “‘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 anticipated the next move: a picture of a large projector, ratchet-strapped to several drawers. At that point, the detectives struggled to keep a straight face.”
The Outcome
Just over a month later, every charge were dropped.
