Defense attorney Todd Blanche then transitioned the topic of the cross-examination to Cohen's involvement in encouraging Trump to run for president.

Cohen earlier told jurors he created the website to encourage Trump, and that the National Enquirer ran a positive story about Cohen's involvement in the campaign.

"You worked very hard during your time working for Trump to get positive stories into the press about President Trump and all the things you were doing?" Blanche asked Cohen.

"Yes sir," Cohen said.

"You worked very hard to make sure there were positive stories about you at times?" Blanche asked.

"Yes sir," Cohen said.

The testimony slightly cuts against one prong of the alleged conspiracy with the National Enquirer -- running positive stories about Trump -- to show that Cohen got some positive press too.

Jurors are now seeing the text message between Cohen and a 14-year-old prank caller that the defense says precipitated Cohen's call to Trump aide Keith Schiller on Oct. 24, 2016..

"This number has just been sent to secret service for your ongoing and continuing harassment to both my cell as well as to the organization's main line," Cohen wrote.

"It wasn't me," the teen responds.

"My friend told me to call," the teen wrote.

"I'm sorry for this," they wrote again. "I won't do it again."

"You will need to explain this to secret service as we have been receiving dozens of these harassing calls over the past 3 days. If you are a minor. I suggest you notify your parent or guardian," Cohen wrote.

"I DIDNT DO IT," the teen continues.

"I'm 14," they continued.

"Please don't Do this," they wrote.

"Please have your parent guardian contact me," Cohen responded. "Before secret service reaches out to them."

The defense is now resuming its cross-examination of Michael Cohen following the lunch break.

A juror informed Judge Merchan that they have a scheduling conflict next Thursday, so Merchan said they'll try to work out a solution later today.

Defense attorney Todd Blanche accused Michael Cohen of lying about a phone call Cohen testified he had with Donald Trump on Oct. 24, 2016.

Blanche read texts between Cohen and Trump aide Keith Schiller on that date, in which Cohen asked Schiller, "Who can I speak to about harassing calls to my phone and office?"

According to Blanche, Schiller asked Cohen to call him at 8:02 p.m.

"This is the call that you testified about on Tuesday that you had a conversation with President Trump?" Blanche said.

Cohen, who testified on Tuesday that he had called Schiller to speak with Trump, agreed.

Nearly shouting, Blanche alleged that Cohen lied during his testimony on Tuesday.

"That was a lie," said Blanche, adding that Cohen texted Schiller the phone number of the 14-year-old prank caller at 8:04 p.m.

"Part of it was the 14-year-old, but I knew that Keith was with Trump at the time," Cohen responded.

"That was a lie. You did not talk to President Trump that night," Blanche said, raising his voice. "You can admit it."

"No sir, I can't," Cohen said. "Because I'm not sure that's accurate."

"This jury doesn't want to hear what you think happened," Blanche said.

Trump, at the defense table, appeared engaged and furrowed his eyebrows.

The jury was then shown text messages from that evening between Cohen and Schiller, which Blanche suggested prosecutors omitted from their exhibit.

"Mr. Cohen, you just said that you don't recall a phone call ... on Tuesday you testified that you remembered the phone call," Blanche shouted, again growing animated and speaking quickly.

Cohen stood by his testimony, saying he spoke to both Trump and Schiller.

"Based upon what was going on and based upon the other messages regarding the Stormy Daniels matter, yes I believe I was telling the truth," Cohen said.

Judge Merchan subsequently recessed the court for lunch.

When Donald Trump won the 2016 election, Cohen testified there was no role for him in the incoming administration.

"My service was no longer necessary," Cohen said.

He was offered a position in the White House as "assistant general counsel" by Reince Preibus, but turned it down. He said he was disappointed he was not considered for chief of staff.

"I didn't want the role. I didn't believe the role was right for me or that I was even competent to be chief of staff. I just wanted my name to be included," he testified.

"It was more about my ego than anything," Cohen said about his disappointment. "I would have liked to have been considered."

Cohen said he pitched being "personal attorney to the president." He would need the role, Cohen said, because there were "outstanding matters" to be dealt with. Cohen conceded it would have helped him personally and professionally.

"I also had another thought in mind, which was consulting. That's what I really wanted because that afforded me the time to stay at home, in New York," he said.

Cohen testified it could have been lucrative to help people understand Trump's thinking.

"Mr. Trump was an enigma," Cohen said. "Because of my close proximity to him for a decade, I did understand."

"Did you think you could monetize being personal attorney to the president?" prosecutor Susan Hoffinger asked.

"Absolutely," Cohen said.

Trump's eyes remained closed during this portion of the testimony.