On the evening of September 16, 2025, as U.S. President Donald Trump touched down in the United Kingdom for his highly anticipated second state visit, an unexpected spectacle unfolded at Windsor Castle. Activists projected a series of striking images onto the historic royal residence—most notably, photographs of Trump alongside convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The bold act, intended as a pointed protest, set off a cascade of police action, political commentary, and renewed scrutiny of the president’s controversial past associations.
According to Sky News, four men—aged 60, 50, 37, and 36, from East Sussex, Kent, and London—were arrested shortly after the nine-minute projection lit up the castle’s walls. The images, beamed from a nearby hotel, included not just photos of Trump and Epstein but also Trump’s 2023 mugshot from his indictment in Georgia. The political campaign group Led By Donkeys quickly claimed responsibility, describing the stunt as a “peaceful protest.” They posted an image of the projection to Instagram with the caption, “Hey Donald, welcome to Windsor Castle.”
Thames Valley Police responded swiftly, halting the projection and detaining the four activists on suspicion of malicious communications and public nuisance. Chief Superintendent Felicity Parker emphasized the seriousness of the incident, stating, “We take any unauthorised activity around Windsor Castle extremely seriously. Our officers responded swiftly to stop the projection and four people have been arrested. We are conducting a thorough investigation with our partners into the circumstances surrounding this incident and will provide further updates when we are in a position to do so.” As of Thursday, the men had been released on bail until December 12, 2025, while the investigation continues.
This wasn’t the only protest to shadow Trump’s visit. Earlier that same day, demonstrators unfurled a massive banner near Windsor Castle featuring a photo of Trump and Epstein. Meanwhile, a van emblazoned with the same image was driven around Windsor by the activist group Everyone Hates Elon. The group claimed the van was seized by police, though Thames Valley Police clarified that the vehicle was merely stopped for a possible traffic offense and not confiscated. “Security checks are a necessary part of our response to ensure the safety of the state visit and all those in the area,” a police spokesperson explained, reiterating that no arrests were made and no vehicles seized in connection with the van.
The protests reached a crescendo on September 17, as several thousand people—organized by the Stop Trump U.K. coalition—marched through central London. Their banners read, “No to racism, no to Trump,” and “Dump Trump.” Some even carried miniature versions of the infamous Trump baby blimp, a satirical symbol that first made headlines during Trump’s initial state visit in 2019. Police deployed a formidable 1,600 officers to manage the crowds, anticipating participation from around 50 different activist groups, including climate, anti-racism, and pro-Palestinian organizations. The number of demonstrators, while significant, was smaller than during Trump’s previous visit.
Outside Windsor Castle, the atmosphere was tense but peaceful, with dozens of protesters facing a heavy police and media presence. Some held signs reading, “Trump your politics stink” and “Go away. You are polluting Windsor.” One protester, Tara Heinemann, voiced a sentiment shared by many: “I really don’t think the royal family should be hosting him. We never, ever want to be a puppet of the Trump regime and what happens with bullies is if you don’t stand up to them, they keep on bullying.” Another, Grace Nathew, said, “I don’t think it’s right that we’re having Trump come for the second state visit due to his horrible rhetoric, policies and actions toward women and people of color.”
Trump’s itinerary was carefully designed to minimize public exposure and avoid the kind of large-scale protests that marked his first visit. After arriving at London Stansted airport—greeted by Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper and a guard of honor from the RAF’s King’s Colour Squadron—Trump and First Lady Melania were whisked to Winfield House, the U.S. ambassador’s residence in Regent’s Park. The following day, they were welcomed at Windsor Castle by King Charles III, enjoying a ceremonial horse-drawn carriage ride and a lavish state banquet. The trip concluded with a meeting at the prime minister’s country estate, Chequers, where Trump sat down with Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Yet, despite efforts to keep the visit dignified and controversy-free, the shadow of Epstein loomed large. The projection at Windsor Castle included not only images of Trump and Epstein but also a purported birthday letter Trump allegedly wrote to Epstein more than two decades ago. The letter, which was also displayed on the castle, contained the text: “To Jeff, you are the greatest!” and a dialogue in which Trump calls Epstein a “pal” and adds, “May every day be another wonderful secret.” The note appeared within a crude sketch of a naked woman’s silhouette. The White House has denied the authenticity of the letter, with officials stating, “The President did not draw this picture, and he did not sign it.”
Trump himself has repeatedly denied a close friendship with Epstein, though past interviews suggest otherwise. In a conversation with New York Magazine—quoted by Byline Times—Trump once said, “I’ve known Jeff for 15 years. He’s a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side. No doubt about it – Jeffrey enjoys his social life.”
The fallout from the so-called “Epstein files”—documents and correspondence relating to Epstein’s network—has only intensified public suspicion. Trump’s refusal to release these files, despite mounting pressure, has fueled speculation of a cover-up, even among some of his own supporters.
For activists, the protests were about more than just Trump’s personal history; they were a statement against what they see as the outsized influence of American billionaires on British politics and society. As a spokeswoman for Everyone Hates Elon put it, “We’re sick of the US’s influence on the UK – whether it’s billionaires like Elon Musk or billionaire backers like Donald Trump. Trump is bringing over tech billionaires to the UK this week just as his former advisor Musk spoke to a far-right rally in central London. They want us to think the US is a good influence – but the truth is Trump is an abuser who was friends with pedophile Jeffrey Epstein. How can that be good for anyone in the UK? There’s no way we’re letting him use our country to polish his image.”
As the dust settles on Trump’s visit, the episode at Windsor Castle stands out as a vivid example of protest in the digital age—where a nine-minute projection can spark international headlines, political debate, and renewed calls for transparency. Whether these protests will have a lasting impact on U.S.-U.K. relations or on Trump’s public image remains to be seen, but for now, the activists behind the Windsor Castle stunt have ensured their message was seen—and heard—around the world.