Obama said he would veto such a stopgap measure, warned Cantor "don't call my bluff," and declared himself ready to take his case to US voters, agreed aides on both sides, who described the events on condition of anonymity.
Republican aides described Obama as storming out of the meeting in a huff, while their Democratic counterparts said that the presidential rebuke left Cantor chastised and speechless.
"I've reached my limit. This may bring my presidency down, but I will not yield on this," according to a Republican aide.