The Aftermath: The Evening The Activist Group Projected Images of Trump and Epstein on to Windsor Castle
When the announcement was made for the former president's upcoming official trip, complete with 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 without a statement. The act of offering a lavish welcome was viewed as particularly craven. Their next art-activist event proceeded like clockwork.
A Deliberate Message
The group produced a nine-minute film detailing Donald Trump’s relationship with the late financier Jeffrey Epstein. Its ending stated: “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. He’s alleged to be referenced, repeatedly, in the files from the investigation into Epstein … And now that president, Donald Trump, is sleeping here in Windsor Castle.” (In response, Trump has stated he ended his friendship with Epstein years before Epstein’s initial legal troubles and repeatedly refuted all allegations concerning Epstein.)
Preparations and Execution
The activists had booked rooms in the nearby Harte and Garter hotel, rooms advertised with views of the castle 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 Bluetooth speaker, hidden within a box of cereal, atop a public rubbish bin outside.
The world’s media was assembled, their gaze fixed at the castle, growing restless awaiting Trump's arrival. The film, however, spread rapidly everywhere. “While photographs of Epstein and Trump spread like wildfire online,” Stewart notes, “I’m not sure that persuades anyone of anything – it simply makes Trump uneasy. Our documentary provides viewers a social object to share, implying: ‘This is something significant to look at here.’ It was a piece of guerrilla journalism about Trump and Epstein, and it was seen by millions.”
The Moment of Projection
The film began with the official Windsor Castle logo. “It requires the castle's round tower requires some technical calibration,” Stewart explains. “First appeared the royal coat of arms. Officers likely thought: ‘How pleasant – the royal family,’ and suddenly a massive image of Jeffrey Epstein materializes. A wave of shock passed through the officers around me, and they raced 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 in Scotland. A year later, officers warned him that if he tried again, his safety wasn't assured.
Confrontation with Police
However, the group's creators were not especially worried about detainment. “All my anxiety is channelled into ensuring the protest works,” says Oliver Knowles, another co-founder. “Once the police make the intervention, the message is already out.” Officers was rapid, arriving in the lobby within three minutes, “really pumped up”, he remembers. “Wearing tactical gear and caps. They had located the culprits. They came roaring up the stairs; prepared; tasked to protect the president. Thankfully, no guns. But they were extremely tense upon entering 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 charge anyone. Upon finally entering the room, “a policeman started reading a clause of the Town and Country Planning Act, before another told him to stop as it was incorrect.” Knowles and three additional team members were subsequently detained for malicious communication, a law related to harassment. “and it’s very specific: it’s designed to deal with a really concerning offence. Applying it to an act of journalism, projected on to a wall, in defense of the reputation of the president, appeared 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.
An Ironic Interrogation
Some time that night, while the activists sat in cells at Maidenhead police station, officers came in and arrested them again, now for public nuisance, having decided more likely to succeed. When they came to be questioned, the sole available interrogators belonged to the child protection squad – a twist which was palpable, 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 anyone who may have had cause to take the drawer?’ ‘No comment.’ I knew what was coming: an image of a large projector, ratchet-strapped to four drawers. At that point, the officers were finding it hard to keep a straight face.”
The Outcome
Just over one month later, all charges were dropped.
