Kelly Dodd has denied all association with John J. Cafaro amid Donald Trump’s controversial Reflecting Pool renovation. The Real Housewives of Orange County (RHOC) star defended an old photo she took with Cafaro, explaining she has no personal relationship with him.
Kelly Dodd denies ties with John J. Cafaro
Kelly Dodd addressed a resurfaced photo of her with Donald Trump donor and ally John J. Cafaro, the contractor for the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. The television personality took a photo with Cafaro in December 2025 at Trump National Golf Club in Florida. The photo is now raising eyebrows as Trump’s Reflecting Pool renovation continues to draw controversy.
Speaking with TMZ, Dodd opened up about the photo, emphasizing that she has no personal relationship with Cafaro. The reality TV star explained that she took the photo because she thought that Cafaro looked “funny,” and compared him to a villain.
Dodd shared that she was attending an event at the Trump National Golf Club with her husband, Rick Leventhal, and Newsmax executives, when she spotted Cafaro. President Donald Trump and Rudy Giuliani were also present.
Dodd also told TMZ that she had no idea who Cafaro was at the time, adding she was unfamiliar with his business dealings and background. According to the RHOC star, she learned Cafaro’s identity only when she was approached by TMZ, which asked her whether she had any connection to the controversial Reflecting Pool contractor.
Donald Trump’s renovation efforts on the Reflecting Pool have come under scrutiny yet again following multiple reports of peeling paint and algae bloom. The president has recently announced the re-drainage of water from the landmark. He also claimed that vandalism is behind the latest issues plaguing the Pool.
In a series of Truth Social posts addressing the matter, Trump shared that authorities have arrested “multiple individuals” for allegedly vandalizing the Washington, D.C. landmark. On June 22, the president stated, “Please remember that there is a 10 year prison sentence for the destruction, or even the attempted destruction, of such things – Which will be fully enforced!”
