WASHINGTON >> It’s not a question that typically needs asking. But yes, the White House says, Melania Trump rode back from the Capitol in the same car as her husband, President Donald Trump, after his State of the Union speech.

That wasn’t a foregone conclusion.

The first lady had not been seen in public with her husband since the Wall Street Journal reported that lawyers for Trump paid Stormy Daniels $130,000 to stay quiet about what the porn star said was an affair with the future president. Daniels said in a statement today that the affair she had described never happened.

The couple’s 13th anniversary passed without public comment. And Mrs. Trump abruptly canceled her trip with the president to Davos, Switzerland, for an economic summit.

Mrs. Trump traveled separately from her husband to the Capitol for the address. Her aide said she had held receptions at both places for the guests seated with her for the speech.

The president began his speech by acknowledging “the first lady” along with other congressional leaders. Mrs. Trump did not visibly react.