Trump's former top aide was the top witness on Day 11 of his hush money trial.
Former President Donald Trump is on trial in New York City, where he is facing felony charges related to a 2016 hush money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. It marks the first time in history that a former U.S. president has been tried on criminal charges.
Trump last April pleaded not guilty to a 34-count indictment charging him with falsifying business records in connection with a hush money payment his then-attorney Michael Cohen made to Daniels in order to boost his electoral prospects in the 2016 presidential election.
Exiting court, Trump spoke briefly with reporters before departing the courthouse.
"I was very interested in what took place today," Trump said of the 11th day of his criminal trial.
The former president wished everyone a good weekend before departing.
-ABC News' Kelsey Walsh and Mike Pappano
"We are going to call it a week at this time," Judge Merchan told the jury, dismissing them for the weekend.
The judge then gathered attorneys for both sides to continue the case's Sandoval hearing, begun last week, about the limit on Trump's potential testimony.
Defense attorney Todd Blanche objected to Trump being cross-examined on his gag order violations.
"Injecting into the cross-examination a finding by your honor beyond a reasonable doubt of contempt ... it puts a layer on top of the testimony," Blanche said. "It invites a sideshow that the People don't need."
Prosecutor Matthew Colangelo argued that the gag order violations are relevant to Trump's credibility because if he violated the gag order, he similarly might "violate his obligation to tell the truth."
"These findings are relevant to the defendant's credibility if he chooses to testify," he said.
Issuing his ruling, Merchan denied the prosecution's request to cross-examine Trump on the gag order violations, finding that a determination from the court would be too prejudicial for the jury to overlook.
"I agree with Mr. Blanche," Merchan said, ending the week's proceedings.
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."
