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Presidential journeys internationally have traditionally been an occasion to display the power of the United States on the global scene. The president's multi-day swing through East Asia, on the other hand, has been a show of the power of Trump – but also, at moments, of that influence's constraints.

The president's stops in Malaysia, Japan and Korea over the duration of the initial days were an demonstration in pleasing a occasionally mercurial US leader. It was an recognition that Trump, with the flick of a hand, could impose tariffs and other measures that have the capacity to harm the markets of trade-reliant countries.

His discussion with Beijing's head Xi Jinping on the last day, however, was a completely different scenario.

It was a encounter of peers on the global stage, where the consequences for the two powers – for their economies, for their world reputation, for the prosperity of their citizens – were immense.

With Beijing, the US leader may wave his power, but these moves involve consequences. They involve a cost.

• The US president describes 'amazing' talks with Xi but no agreement agreed
• The Chinese president and Trump find temporary truce as Beijing adopts strategic patience

For the opening segment, the president's most recent venture into world politics was smooth sailing.

Each destination was punctuated by a combination of traditional economic talks – agreements made under the pressure of the president's "equivalent" taxes – and personal accommodations that at times approached the obsequious.

In Malaysia, the president secured entry to essential resources and made advances toward completing trade arrangements with regional partners. He also led a treaty that should reduce territorial disputes between Thailand and Cambodia – the kind of "peace agreement" the American president enjoys to promote.

In the Japanese leg, Trump's Marine One flew past a landmark tower displayed American colors – with a top in Trumpian gold.

Recently chosen Leader Sanai Takaichi outlined $550 billion in Tokyo's funding in the United States and offered the US leader a present of 250 cherry trees for the United States' 250th birthday, and a golf club and case that was owned by Shinzo Abe, the murdered ex-leader who connected with Trump in his first term.

She also became the newest international head to propose the president for his highly-coveted Nobel Peace Prize.

Matching the effort, the Korean government received the president with artillery discharging a traditional greeting and a service ensemble that played the leader's song and the Village People song – the musical group tune that has become a Trump rally anthem.

Head Lee Jae Myung held an "award event" for Trump during which he gave the US president his nation's premier award and a model of an ancient Korean dynastic crown.

Midday meal with Lee included a "Conciliatory Treat" of gilded baked goods. Afterward, the Koreans offered the president vineyard wine at an intimate dinner in the president's recognition with half-dozen world leaders present at the regional summit summit.

In the US, the president may be the target of "No Kings" protests by Americans who disapprove of his boundary-testing increases of leader's control, but during his East Asia tour he was received as nobility.

And like the kings of history, Trump came to South Korea requesting contribution – in the guise of $200 billion in cash payments, $twenty billion a per year, from the host nation to the America, to be used at the guidance of Trump's government. Consent on the conditions of those transfers assisted in that the duty level on South Korean exports to the United States would decrease from a quarter to 15%.

The main event of the president's Asia trip occurred in its final hours, though, as he met with the Chinese leader.

In that setting, the authority balance between leaders of the planet's biggest economic powers was noticeably divergent than the exchanges Trump had with his foreign counterparts in previous days.

Not present were typical pageantry and the spectacle. Without any service ensembles, absent honour guards, no thoughtfully prepared meal plans honoring shared goodwill. By contrast, the pair of counterparts and their top aides were seated across a large pale negotiating table in a nondescript armed forces facility just adjacent to the landing strip of Busan's global terminal.

It was likely a demonstration of the significant risks that when the president shook hands with the Chinese leader in Busan, he seemed