The prosecution has next called Tracy Menzies, a senior vice president at HarperCollins.

She is testifying about Donald Trump and Bill Zanker's 2007 book, "Think Big: Make It Happen in Business and Life."

Trump, at the defense table, tilted his head up at the large screen at the front of the courtroom and then leaned toward his monitor at the defense table as his image appeared on the cover jacket for the book.

Menzies testified about passages from the book, quoting Trump's approach to business and people management.

"As a matter of fact, I value loyalty above everything else -- more than brains, more than drive, more than energy," Trump wrote in one portion of the book, read aloud by Menzies. Another portion of the book noted that loyalty has become "part of the corporate culture of the Trump Organization."

"My motto is: Always get even. When somebody screws you, screw them back in spades," read another quote.

"When you are wronged, go after those people because it is a good feeling and because other people will see you doing it."

Also: "Get the best people and don't trust them."

Defense attorney Susan Necheles conducted a short cross-examination of Trump Organization Rebecca Manochio about her time at the Trump Organization.

"Is it a nice place to work?" Necheles asked.

"Yes," Manochio said.

"You didn't really interact with President Trump?" Necheles asked.

"No," Manochio replied.

During her cross examination, Manochio also testified that then-CFO Allen Weisselberg rarely communicated with Trump once he took office.

"President Trump and Allen Weisselberg did not speak at all?" Susan Necheles asked.

"Correct," Manochio responded.

Necheles attempted to highlight that the checks made out to Michael Cohen, that were sent to Trump for his signature, were sent to Trump's bodyguard in Washington because they were for "personal bills" that needed to be quickly paid, and the White House delayed Trump's personal mail.

"These were all personal bills that had to be paid promptly?" Necheles asked.

"Yes," Manochio said.

Donald Trump has returned to the courtroom following the lunch break.

Trump surveyed the gallery as he got to the defense counsel table.

Judge Merchan is back on the bench and Trump Organization bookkeeper Rebecca Manochio has taken her seat on the witness stand to resume her testimony.

Trump's defense team, after Judge Juan Merchan dismissed the jury for a lunch break, informed the judge they have a renewed motion for a mistrial plus two additional motions.

In in addition to seeking a mistrial, the defense will asking to preclude Karen McDougal's potential testimony, and seek to modify part of the limited gag order placed on Trump.

Merchan said he will break testimony early at 4 p.m. ET and handle the three motions then.

Before excusing the jury for the lunch break, Merchan announced that the trial is currently on or ahead of schedule.

Defense attorney Susan Necheles turned the topic of her cross-examination to Stormy Daniels' recent social media posts related to the trial.

Jurors saw a March 2024 post on X where Daniels said she was the "best person to flush the orange turd down."

Pressed by Necheles, Daniels initially refused to confirm if she was referring to Donald Trump in that post.

The questioning turned combative and Daniels appeared to get defensive.

"If they want to make fun of me, I can make fun of them," Daniels said.

Daniels later relented, telling Necheles that she referenced Trump in the tweet.

"I absolutely meant Donald Trump," Daniels admitted.