🔗 Share this article What Happened Next: The Evening Led By Donkeys Beamed Images of Trump and Epstein onto Windsor Castle When plans were revealed for Donald Trump’s second state visit, complete with a royal dinner at Windsor on September 17th, 2025, the activist collective known as Led By Donkeys was determined not to let it pass without a statement. The act of rolling out the red carpet was viewed as particularly craven. Their next art-activist event unfolded with precision. A Deliberate Message The group produced a short documentary detailing the connections with notorious figure Jeffrey Epstein. Its ending stated: “The president of the United States is alleged to have been a long-time close friend of America’s most notorious sex offender. He’s alleged to be referenced, numerous times, in the files related to the criminal probe into that individual … And now that very man, Donald Trump, is sleeping here in Windsor Castle.” (For his part, Trump has stated he fell out with Epstein long prior to Epstein’s initial legal troubles and repeatedly refuted any wrongdoing concerning Epstein.) Preparations and Execution The activists had secured rooms in the adjacent Harte and Garter hotel, rooms advertised with views of the castle and, more crucially, “castle view superior”, said group founder, Ben Stewart. Their equipment included a high-lumen projector. For audio, Stewart positioned a wireless speaker, concealed inside a cereal box, atop a garbage can outside. The world’s media had gathered, staring at the castle, becoming bored awaiting Trump's arrival. Their film, gained traction globally. “Although photographs of Epstein and Trump went viral online,” Stewart says, “I doubt that persuades anyone of anything – it just makes Trump uncomfortable. Our documentary provides viewers a social object to share, saying: ‘This is something really serious to examine here.’ We took 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. “Projecting onto the castle's round tower requires some technical calibration,” Stewart states. “First appeared this royal crest. The police are thinking: ‘Ah, that’s nice – a royal tribute,’ and then abruptly a massive image of Jeffrey Epstein appears. This electric jolt passed through the officers nearby, and they raced into the hotel.” A History of Activism It wasn't their inaugural action; it wasn’t even their first effort targeting Trump. In 2018, during his time with Greenpeace, Stewart piloted a paraglider over the hotel where the then-president was staying in Scotland. A year later, officers warned him that any repeat, they couldn’t guarantee. The Arrests But, the group's creators were not especially worried about arrest. “My nervous energy goes into ensuring the action to succeed,” says Oliver Knowles, a fellow founder. “Once the police arrive, the die is cast.” Officers was swift, arriving in the lobby in under three minutes, “really pumped up”, he remembers. “They were in jumpsuits and caps. They had located the culprits. They came roaring up the stairs; prepared; they were on a mission to protect the president. Thankfully, no firearms. But they were extremely tense upon entering the room. I told them: ‘We should keep this calm.’” Delaying multiple police officers is a long time. The fact that officers were unsure under what law to charge anyone. Upon finally entering the room, “one officer started reading a section of the Town and Country Planning Act, before another told him to stop as it was incorrect.” Knowles and three other team members were then arrested for malicious communication, a law related to harassment. “The law is precise: its purpose is to address a really concerning offence. Applying it to a piece of journalism, projected on to a wall, in defense of the reputation of the president, seemed against the spirit of the legislation,” Stewart says archly. While the others were detained, he slipped away, shortly thereafter boarded a train leaving Windsor, contacting legal counsel. A Second Arrest and Questioning Later in the middle of the night, while the activists were in the cells at Maidenhead police station, police re-entered and re-arrested them, now for public nuisance, having decided a stronger charge. During interrogation, the only officers available belonged to the child protection unit – an irony that was not lost on anyone, given the focus of the protest involved alleged sex offender. The activists responded to every question with: “No comment.” Shortly after starting the interview, police presented a photograph: “They asked, did you remove the drawer from this nightstand?’ ‘No comment.’ ‘Sir, do you know anyone who may have had reason to remove the drawer?’ ‘No comment.’ I anticipated the next move: a picture of a giant projector, secured to several drawers. Then, the detectives struggled to maintain their composure.” The Final Result Just over one month later, all charges were dropped.
When plans were revealed for Donald Trump’s second state visit, complete with a royal dinner at Windsor on September 17th, 2025, the activist collective known as Led By Donkeys was determined not to let it pass without a statement. The act of rolling out the red carpet was viewed as particularly craven. Their next art-activist event unfolded with precision. A Deliberate Message The group produced a short documentary detailing the connections with notorious figure Jeffrey Epstein. Its ending stated: “The president of the United States is alleged to have been a long-time close friend of America’s most notorious sex offender. He’s alleged to be referenced, numerous times, in the files related to the criminal probe into that individual … And now that very man, Donald Trump, is sleeping here in Windsor Castle.” (For his part, Trump has stated he fell out with Epstein long prior to Epstein’s initial legal troubles and repeatedly refuted any wrongdoing concerning Epstein.) Preparations and Execution The activists had secured rooms in the adjacent Harte and Garter hotel, rooms advertised with views of the castle and, more crucially, “castle view superior”, said group founder, Ben Stewart. Their equipment included a high-lumen projector. For audio, Stewart positioned a wireless speaker, concealed inside a cereal box, atop a garbage can outside. The world’s media had gathered, staring at the castle, becoming bored awaiting Trump's arrival. Their film, gained traction globally. “Although photographs of Epstein and Trump went viral online,” Stewart says, “I doubt that persuades anyone of anything – it just makes Trump uncomfortable. Our documentary provides viewers a social object to share, saying: ‘This is something really serious to examine here.’ We took 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. “Projecting onto the castle's round tower requires some technical calibration,” Stewart states. “First appeared this royal crest. The police are thinking: ‘Ah, that’s nice – a royal tribute,’ and then abruptly a massive image of Jeffrey Epstein appears. This electric jolt passed through the officers nearby, and they raced into the hotel.” A History of Activism It wasn't their inaugural action; it wasn’t even their first effort targeting Trump. In 2018, during his time with Greenpeace, Stewart piloted a paraglider over the hotel where the then-president was staying in Scotland. A year later, officers warned him that any repeat, they couldn’t guarantee. The Arrests But, the group's creators were not especially worried about arrest. “My nervous energy goes into ensuring the action to succeed,” says Oliver Knowles, a fellow founder. “Once the police arrive, the die is cast.” Officers was swift, arriving in the lobby in under three minutes, “really pumped up”, he remembers. “They were in jumpsuits and caps. They had located the culprits. They came roaring up the stairs; prepared; they were on a mission to protect the president. Thankfully, no firearms. But they were extremely tense upon entering the room. I told them: ‘We should keep this calm.’” Delaying multiple police officers is a long time. The fact that officers were unsure under what law to charge anyone. Upon finally entering the room, “one officer started reading a section of the Town and Country Planning Act, before another told him to stop as it was incorrect.” Knowles and three other team members were then arrested for malicious communication, a law related to harassment. “The law is precise: its purpose is to address a really concerning offence. Applying it to a piece of journalism, projected on to a wall, in defense of the reputation of the president, seemed against the spirit of the legislation,” Stewart says archly. While the others were detained, he slipped away, shortly thereafter boarded a train leaving Windsor, contacting legal counsel. A Second Arrest and Questioning Later in the middle of the night, while the activists were in the cells at Maidenhead police station, police re-entered and re-arrested them, now for public nuisance, having decided a stronger charge. During interrogation, the only officers available belonged to the child protection unit – an irony that was not lost on anyone, given the focus of the protest involved alleged sex offender. The activists responded to every question with: “No comment.” Shortly after starting the interview, police presented a photograph: “They asked, did you remove the drawer from this nightstand?’ ‘No comment.’ ‘Sir, do you know anyone who may have had reason to remove the drawer?’ ‘No comment.’ I anticipated the next move: a picture of a giant projector, secured to several drawers. Then, the detectives struggled to maintain their composure.” The Final Result Just over one month later, all charges were dropped.