Trump trial: Hope Hicks faces her ex-boss on 'Access Hollywood' tape, Daniels payment

Longtime Trump aide Hope Hicks reached for a glass of water as defense attorney Emil Bove, who has slowed the pace of his questioning, returned to the topic of the "Access Hollywood" tape.

Hicks said that Trump wanted his family to be proud of him, reinforcing the defense argument that Trump was just trying to protect his family amid negative press ahead of the 2016 election.

"I don't think he wanted anyone in his family to be hurt or embarrassed by anything that was happening on the campaign," Hicks said. "He wanted them to be proud of him."

Throughout her cross-examination, Hicks sprinkled her testimony with positive remarks about Trump.

"He likes to call and praise people for stories, even if they were not about him," Hicks said of Trump's interactions with the media. "He does a really nice job of maintaining relationships and always being willing to engage with the media."

When asked about her role in Trump's presidential campaign, Hicks responded, "I have only been on one campaign but it was a great one."

Trump, through much of this testimony, sat back in his chair, clasping his open hands over his chest.

Bove subsequently concluded his cross-examination and Hicks stepped down off the stand.

She appeared to give a side-eye glance at Trump as she left. As she walked by, Trump turned his head and watched her walk toward the exit.

Defense attorney Emil Bove restarted his cross-examination of questioning longtime Trump aide Hope Hicks by asking her about her time at the Trump Organization -- following up on her earlier sentiment about the company functioning like a family business.

He asked if she met members of the Trump family, his wife and other employees.

"You felt you had his trust and respect, right?" Bove asked regarding Trump.

"Trust and respect? Yes," Hicks said.

Hicks' voice wavered during her testimony about the Trump Organization, which she recalled fondly.

"I really looked up to Rhona," Hicks said about Rhona Graff, Trump's longtime executive assistant.

Asked about then-Trump attorney Michael Cohen, she said found him something of a headache for the campaign when he circumvented their press shop.

"He went rogue, at times? Fair to say?" Bove asked.

"Yes," Hicks said.

"There were times ... he did things that were not helpful?" Bove asked.

"I used to say he would like to call himself a 'fixer,' or 'Mr. Fix-it,'" Hicks testified. "But it was only because he first broke it."

Longtime Trump aide Hope Hicks returned to the courtroom after breaking down on the witness stand. Her face was red and her eyes still watery as she walked past the gallery and to her seat on the witness stand.

Trump -- who appeared to be in the middle of a conversation with his lawyers -- did not look up as Hicks re-entered the courtroom after a short break.

Both Trump and Hicks looked straight ahead as the jurors re-entered the courtroom. For a brief moment, Hicks appeared to glance toward the defense table. She did not appear to make eye contact with Trump.

"Sorry about that," Hicks said as defense attorney Emil Bove resumed his cross-examination.

Donald Trump's longtime aide Hope Hicks broke down on the stand as her cross-examination was about to begin.

Hicks began crying after the prosecution's direct examination concluded.

Defense attorney Emil Bove had only just started his cross examination. "I want to talk to you about your time at the Trump Organization," Bove said before he asked for a break.

Hicks was visibly crying, looking down on the witness stand and dabbing her eyes as the jury was sent out of the room.

In her last set of responses on direct examination, she recalled a time in 2018 talking to Donald Trump about the $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels. She testified that Trump told her Cohen made the payment on his own.

But Hicks testified she felt that would be out of character for Cohen.

"I didn't know Michael to be an especially charitable person, or selfless person," Hicks said. "(He was) the kind of person who seeks credit."

Hicks then said Trump expressed that "It would have been bad to have that story come out before the election."

Hicks left the courtroom after she broke down, and jurors were excused during the break.