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Presidential journeys abroad have traditionally been an opportunity to display the influence of the American nation on the world stage. The president's five-day swing through East Asia, on the other hand, has been a demonstration of the authority of the president – but also, at points, of that influence's boundaries.

Trump's destinations in Malaysia, Japan and South Korea over the duration of the first four days were an demonstration in satisfying a sometimes mercurial American president. It was an recognition that Trump, with the signature of a hand, could introduce tariffs and other measures that have the capacity to harm the markets of export-oriented nations.

His sit-down with Beijing's head Xi on the final day, though, was a distinct situation.

It was a session of peers on the international scene, where the consequences for each country – for their economies, for their world reputation, for the well-being of their citizens – were significant.

With Beijing, Trump may wave his authority, but such actions entail repercussions. They come with a price.

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• The Chinese president and Trump establish brief pause as China pursues extended strategy

For the first four days, Trump's most recent foray into international relations was smooth sailing.

Each stop was marked by a blend of conventional trade negotiations – agreements made under the pressure of Trump's "equivalent" tariffs – and personal accommodations that at moments bordered on the obsequious.

In the Malaysian stop, Trump secured entry to critical minerals and made headway toward completing trade arrangements with south-east Asian nations. He also presided over a treaty that should ease territorial disputes between Thailand and Cambodia – the kind of "truce" the American president loves to promote.

In Japan, Trump's helicopter passed by a famous structure lit red, white and blue – with a peak in golden.

Freshly appointed Head the Japanese leader outlined $550bn in Japan's financial commitments in the America and gave the president a present of 250 sakura trees for the United States' 250th birthday, and a golf equipment and carrier that came from Shinzo Abe, the murdered past head who connected with Trump in his initial presidency.

She also became the most recent foreign leader to propose Trump for his much-desired peace award.

Keeping pace, the Korean government greeted Trump with guns discharging a honor salute and a service ensemble that rendered the presidential anthem and the Village People song – the band tune that has turned into a Trump rally standard.

Head Lee held an "award event" for the US leader during which he awarded the US president his state's highest medal and a copy of an traditional ruler's coronet.

Noon repast with the Korean leader featured a "Conciliatory Treat" of gilded brownies. Later that day, the Koreans provided Trump fine beverage at an intimate dinner in Trump's honor with multiple global figures attending the regional summit summit.

In the America, Trump may be the focus of "Anti-Authority" rallies by Americans who disapprove of his boundary-testing extensions of presidential power, but during his Asian tour he was treated like monarchy.

And like the monarchs of history, the president visited the Korean nation seeking contribution – in the guise of $two hundred billion in financial transfers, $20 billion a annually, from South Korea to the United States, to be invested at the direction of the president's leadership. Agreement on the details of those payments assisted in that the duty level on South Korean products to the America would fall from a quarter to 15%.

The main event of Trump's Asian tour took place in its last moments, though, as he sat down with Xi.

At that location, the influence relationship between heads of the global top two markets was noticeably divergent than the meetings the president had with his overseas colleagues in previous days.

Missing were the usual ceremony and the display. Lacking armed forces orchestras, absent protocol units, without carefully crafted dining selections marking shared goodwill. By contrast, the pair of counterparts and their key staff were seated across a extended light-colored discussion surface in a nondescript service structure just off the runway of Busan's international airport.

It was possibly a reflection of the significant risks that when Trump exchanged greetings with the Chinese leader in Busan, he seemed