The White House said on Thursday a deal curbing the U.S. deficit and raising its debt ceiling was possible by June, but warned the borrowing limit must be raised regardless of getting a deficit deal.

"You cannot hold one hostage to the other. We certainly think it's possible that it can be done, to get that kind of agreement by June," White House press secretary Jay Carney told reporters traveling with President Barack Obama to Nevada.

"But if something happens and if not, you can't just say that ...we're just going to let the United States government go in default, tank the economy, send the economy into recession, not just domestically but globally. That would be the height of irresponsibility," Carney said.