Reality television personality Kelly Dodd is speaking out after a photograph of her alongside a controversial Trump donor resurfaced and placed her at the center of a growing federal contracting scandal.
The Real Housewives of Orange County alum says she had no personal relationship with John J. Cafaro and knew absolutely nothing about the man when the snapshot was taken. Dodd insists the image tells a far simpler story than the one circulating online, and she is determined to set the record straight.
The photo, which Dodd originally shared on Instagram in December 2025, shows her posing with Cafaro at Trump National Golf Club in Florida. She was at the event with her husband, Newsmax reporter Rick Leventhal, along with several prominent figures, including President Donald Trump and former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani.
According to Dodd, she spotted Cafaro across the room and approached him not because of who he was, but because of how he looked.
Dodd described Cafaro’s appearance as unusual and amusing, saying he reminded her of a Hollywood villain. The 74-year-old was wearing a red blazer and had a large cigar in his mouth at the time, a combination she found too striking to pass up.
She says she asked him for a photo solely on that impression and walked away without knowing his name, background, or anything else about him.
Dodd Claims She Learned Cafaro’s Identity Only When Contacted for Comment
In a candid account shared publicly, Dodd said she did not learn who Cafaro actually was until she was asked about him directly. She stated that she had no idea of his name or any of his dealings prior to that moment. For Dodd, the photo was nothing more than a lighthearted snapshot at a social gathering, not evidence of any meaningful connection.
That explanation has not stopped the image from drawing attention, particularly because of the scrutiny now surrounding Cafaro himself.
The Ohio-based businessman and longtime Trump donor has come under intense public and political pressure over a federal contract tied to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool renovation project, one of the most visible infrastructure undertakings of the current administration.
His proximity to the White House has raised uncomfortable questions about how the contract was awarded in the first place.
Cafaro owns Greenwater Services through the J.J. Cafaro Investment Trust. He is also a two-time felon, having previously pleaded guilty in separate federal cases involving bribing a congressman and violating campaign finance laws in the early 2000s.
Despite this record, his company received a major government contract during an administration that emphasized his credibility as a trusted ally.
A $1.7 Million No-Bid Contract and an Algae-Covered Pool
The National Park Service awarded Greenwater Services a $1.7 million no-bid contract to install a water purification system for the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, bypassing the standard competitive bidding process.
The contract was granted under an exemption reserved for urgent situations, citing a lack of comparable competitors in the field. Cafaro has maintained that his company possesses proprietary technology involving ozone-infused nanobubbles that no other firm could replicate, a claim the parks department appeared to accept.
Trump had directed the renovation of the Reflecting Pool ahead of the nation’s 250th anniversary celebrations, with plans to repaint the floor and turn the water a striking shade of blue described as “American flag blue.”
A separate Virginia firm, Atlantic Industrial Coatings, received a no-bid contract exceeding $13 million to apply blue waterproofing material to the pool’s concrete floor, which had traditionally been gray. That final price tag was more than seven times the administration’s original estimate of $1.8 million.
The results have not gone according to plan. Within 24 hours of the project’s completion, the pool’s water turned green from a large algae bloom, and the new blue coating began peeling off in sheets. Workers have since been deployed to vacuum out the algae and treat the water with hydrogen peroxide to restore it before the upcoming anniversary events.
The Interior Department spokeswoman said the agency was unaware of Cafaro’s political ties when it selected his firm, adding that the company was chosen for its expertise, workforce, and ability to meet the project timeline.
Cafaro Defends His Company While the Controversy Grows
A separate Virginia firm, Atlantic Industrial Coatings, received a no-bid contract exceeding $13 million to apply blue waterproofing material to the pool’s concrete floor, which had traditionally been gray. That final price tag was more than seven times the administration’s original estimate of $1.8 million.
The results have not gone according to plan. Within 24 hours of the project’s completion, the pool’s water turned green from a large algae bloom, and the new blue coating began peeling off in sheets. Workers have since been deployed to vacuum out the algae and treat the water with hydrogen peroxide to restore it before the upcoming anniversary events.
The Interior Department spokeswoman said the agency was unaware of Cafaro’s political ties when it selected his firm, adding that the company was chosen for its expertise, workforce, and ability to meet the project timeline.
Dodd, meanwhile, wants no part of the political fallout. She has been clear that her only connection to Cafaro was a brief interaction at a club event where she found his appearance entertaining.
For her, there was no business discussion, no relationship, and no awareness of the contractor’s background. Whether the public fully accepts that explanation may depend on how much deeper the Reflecting Pool controversy runs before it is resolved.
