Molly Crane-Newman and Josephine Stratman | New York Daily News NEW YORK — Donald Trump’s defense team rested their case on Tuesday without calling him as a witness at his historic Manhattan trial. Judge Juan Merchan directed the jurors to go home and return next Tuesday, saying he wanted to avoid a large gap between summations and their deliberations. “At the end of the day, I think the best thing we can do is adjourn now until next Tuesday,” Merchan said, warning them not to look up anything about the case. Prosecutors said they had nothing more to present to rebut the defense’s case. On his way into the courtroom earlier, Trump called the defense’s case “phenomenal” and said it would be wrapped shortly. “We’ll be resting pretty quickly,” said Trump, whose entourage Tuesday included Don Trump, Jr., former acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker and comic Joe Piscopo. “Resting meaning resting the case.