The Unfolding Events: The Evening The Activist Group Projected Pictures Featuring Trump and Epstein onto Windsor Castle
When the announcement was made for Donald Trump’s upcoming official trip, complete with a Windsor Castle banquet on September 17th, 2025, the activist collective Led By Donkeys felt compelled to ensure it did not go unprotested. The act of rolling out the red carpet was viewed as especially servile. Their next art-activist event unfolded with precision.
A Provocative Film
Activists created a nine-minute film exploring the connections with the late financier Jeffrey Epstein. It concluded: “The president of the United States was a long-time close friend of America’s most notorious sex offender. His name is said to be referenced, repeatedly, in the files related to the criminal probe into that individual … And now that president, Donald Trump, is sleeping here in Windsor Castle.” (For his part, Trump maintains he ended his friendship with Epstein long prior to Epstein’s initial legal troubles and repeatedly refuted all allegations in relation to Epstein.)
Preparations and Execution
The activists had booked rooms in the adjacent Harte and Garter hotel, which boast views of the castle and, more crucially, “castle view superior”, according to group founder, Ben Stewart. Their equipment included a high-lumen 32,000-lumen projector. For audio, Stewart positioned a Bluetooth speaker, hidden within a box of cereal, atop a garbage can outside.
The world’s media was assembled, staring at the castle, becoming bored as Trump was delayed. The film, however, spread rapidly globally. “Although 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. Our documentary provides viewers a social object to share, implying: ‘There’s something significant to examine here.’ We took an act of activist journalism about Trump and Epstein, and it was seen by millions.”
The Moment of Projection
The film began with the recognizable Windsor Castle logo. “It requires a cylindrical building requires some technical calibration,” Stewart explains. “So there’s the royal coat of arms. The police likely thought: ‘How pleasant – the royal family,’ and suddenly a great big picture of Jeffrey Epstein materializes. A wave of shock passed through the officers nearby, and the police raced into the hotel.”
Not Their First Protest
This was not their inaugural action; it wasn’t even their first action against Trump. Back in 2018, while working for Greenpeace, Stewart had flown a motorized paraglider over the resort where the then-president was staying in Scotland. A year later, officers warned him that any repeat, his safety wasn't assured.
Confrontation with Police
But, the activists weren't especially worried about arrest. “My nervous energy is channelled into ensuring the protest works,” says Oliver Knowles, another co-founder. “By the time the police arrive, the die is cast.” The police response was swift, reaching the hotel in under three minutes, “really pumped up”, Knowles recalls. “They were in jumpsuits and baseball caps. They had located some protesters. They came roaring up the stairs; they were briefed; they were on a mission to protect the president. Fortunately, no guns. But they were very adrenalised upon entering the room. I had to say: ‘We should keep this calm.’”
Stalling multiple police officers is a long time. The fact that officers didn’t know which law to charge anyone. When they finally entered the room, “one officer started reading a section of the Town and Country Planning Act, before another asked him to stop because it wasn’t right.” Knowles and three other team members were subsequently detained for malicious communications, a stalking law. “and it’s very specific: its purpose is to address a serious offence. To throw it at 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 says archly. While the others were detained, he slipped away, then soon after was on a train out of Windsor, calling lawyers.
An Ironic Interrogation
Some time that night, as the detainees were in the cells at Maidenhead police station, police re-entered and re-arrested them, this time for public nuisance, deeming it a stronger charge. During interrogation, the only officers available belonged to the child protection squad – a twist that was palpable, given the focus of the protest involved alleged sex offender. Knowles and his associates just answered every question with: “I have no comment.” A few minutes into the interview, the officers slid over a photo: “They asked, did you remove the drawer from this nightstand?’ ‘No comment.’ ‘Sir, do you know anybody else who may have had reason to remove the drawer?’ ‘No comment.’ I knew what was coming: a picture of a giant projector, ratchet-strapped to several drawers. At that point, the detectives were finding it hard to maintain their composure.”
The Final Result
Just over a month later, all charges were dropped.
