Trump trial: Judge rebukes Michael Cohen ahead of expected testimony Monday

On cross-examination by defense attorney Susan Necheles, Trump White House aide Madeleine Westerhout sang Trump's praises.

"You thought he was a great person to work for?" Necheles asked.

"Yes," Westerhout said, telling jurors that Trump was a great president.

Westerhout previously testified that she found Trump's relationship with his wife Melania Trump "special," and described their dynamic in glowing terms.

"He was my boss, but she was definitely the one in charge," she said. "I just remember thinking that their relationship was really special. They laughed a lot when she came into the Oval Office."

Necheles sought to pull this thread, asking Westerhout about how they engaged with one another at the White House.

"There were times when I could tell [Trump] was on the phone with Mrs. Trump, and he would say 'Honey ... come to the window,' and they would kind of wave to each other," from the residence, Westerhout said.

Westerhout then stepped off the stand so Judge Juan Merchan could hear the three motions the defense has asked to bring. The judge dismissed the jury in preparation for hearing the motions.

Westerhout's testimony is scheduled to resume tomorrow.

"I am very regretful of my youthful indiscretion," Trump White House aide Madeleine Westerhout said, explaining that she left the White House after sharing information with reporters at an off-the-record dinner.

Trump appeared to confer with Blanche as Westerhout began to cry.

Fighting back tears, Westerhout said she has "grown a lot since then."

She spoke through tears and choked up as she told the jury about why she wrote her book about her time in the White House.

"I don't think he was treated fairly and I wanted to tell that story," Westerhout said of Trump.

In June of 2017, Trump White House aide Madeleine Westerhout sent Trump Organization executive assistant Rhona Graff a photo and said then-President Trump wanted it framed.

"President Trump wanted to put in a frame to put behind his desk in the office," Westerhout testified. "Behind the Resolute Desk there was a little credenza."

Graff responded that she had no empty frames and offered to go to Tiffany & Co., next door to the Trump Tower, but she said the frames were "on the pricey side," about $650.

"Does DJT want to spend that much?" Graff asked in the email.

"Is this the type of thing that Mr. Trump would want to weigh in on?" prosecutor Becky Mangold asked Westerhout.

"I don't recall another instance like this," said Westerhout, but she said this was a photo of Trump's mother that he wanted it framed.

"We may have made the executive decision without his approval," Westerhout said. She glanced toward Trump sitting at the defense table, and said, "Sorry, sir."

Jurors saw an example of Donald Trump individually approving an expense. Prosecutors showed the jury a handwritten note on Trump's bill for the Winged Foot Golf Club. The bill totaled approximately $7,000.

"PAY," the note said. "ASAP OK."

"Whose handwriting is that?" prosecutor Becky Mangold asked Trump White House aide Madeleine Westerhout.

"That's the president's," Westerhout said, referring to Trump. "That looks to be a Sharpie or another felt tip pen."