Trump trial: Emotional Hope Hicks faces her former boss on 'Access Hollywood' tape, Stormy Daniels payment

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.


What to know about the hush money case

READ MORE: Here's what you need to know about the historic case.


Trump pays fine for gag order violations

Donald Trump has paid the $9,000 he was fined for violating the limited gag order in the case, according to a court official.

Trump made the payment yesterday using two cashiers checks -- one for $2,000 and another for $7,000.

Trump on Tuesday was ordered by Judge Merchan to pay the $9,000 fine -- $1,000 for each of Trump's nine violations -- by the close of business today.


Trump, departing, says he was 'very interested' in proceedings

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


Judge won't let Trump be cross-examined over gag order

"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.



Hicks says Trump wanted his family to be proud of him

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.


Hicks says says Trump drafted Karen McDougal statement

Longtime Trump aide Hope Hicks said she spoke with National Enquirer publisher Pecker about the Karen McDougal story on Nov. 4, 2016.

"He explained that Karen McDougal was paid for magazine covers and fitness columns and that it was all very legitimate. And that was what the contract was for," Hicks said.

Hicks said she spoke with Michael Cohen before calling Pecker.

Hicks said she drafted a statement to respond to the Wall Street Journal, which was about to break the story that National Enquirer parent AMI had paid off McDougal to buy her silence about a long-denied affair with Trump. She then shared the statement with Trump once he returned to his plane.

"When Mr. Trump came on the plane for the rally, I shared it with him as well," Hicks said.

Cohen also made edits and offered feedback to the draft statement, according to an exhibit entered into evidence.

According to Hicks, Trump opted to write his own statement instead.

"He wanted to draft his own statement," Hicks said.

Before he drafted the statement, Hicks and Trump called back Pecker, who repeated the information he told Hicks earlier.

"It included his explanation for this -- that this was a legitimate contract, and that's what they planned to tell the Journal," Hicks said.

Hicks said on the stand that her memory was "very fuzzy at this point," but she said that Trump wanted to make sure the statement denied any relationship with Stormy Daniels, who was also mentioned in the Wall Street Journal article.

"He wanted to know the context and he wanted to make sure that there was a denial of any kind of relationship," Hicks said.

Following this testimony, court broke for lunch. Trump gave a thumbs-up to reporters as he exited the courtroom for the break.