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.
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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.
'It was intense,' Hicks says of coverage of 'Access Hollywood' tape
Longtime Trump aide Hope Hicks testified about the ensuing coverage of the "Access Hollywood" tape.
"It was intense. Dominated coverage for the 36 hours leading up the debate," Hicks said.
Hicks recalled that a Category 4 hurricane was predicted to make landfall around the same time, but the Trump coverage completely dominated the news.
"I don't think anywhere remembers where or when that hurricane made landfall. It was all Trump all the time for ... 36 hours," Hicks said.
Hicks testified about how other Republican politicians -- like Mitt Romney and Mitch McConnell -- responded to the Access Hollywood tape.
"Things like disgraces, disgusting, something along those lines," Hicks said in describing Romney's statement.
In the courtroom, Trump has been sitting slightly back in his chair for the bulk of Hicks' testimony. His body is angled slightly toward the witness stand to watch the testimony.
He appeared to be taking some handwritten notes while his lawyers attended a sidebar conference with the judge.
