Trump says wealthy may have to pay more in taxes

Sept. 13 (UPI) -- After a bipartisan meeting with members of the House of Representatives about tax reform Wednesday, President Donald Trump said it's possible wealthy Americans may have to pay more in taxes.

The president said the tax reform plan the group drafted would include the largest decrease in taxes in history for the middle class, but perhaps not for the rich.

"If they have to go higher, they'll go higher," he told reporters after the meeting.

In addition to cutting taxes for the middle class, Trump said the plan would simplify the tax code, encourage companies to hire in the United States and "bring back trillions of dollars overseas."

Trump said he hopes tax reform can be a bipartisan effort, putting the American people's interests first.

Later Wednesday, the president was scheduled to have dinner at the White House with the Democrats' top leaders in Congress -- Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.

Other expected guests at the dinner include White House Chief of Staff John Kelly, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney.

Wednesday's meetings come days after Trump struck an agreement with Democrats to tie hurricane aid funding to a three-month extension in the debt ceiling, and a measure to maintain government funding -- deals that were criticized by some Republican lawmakers.