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Presidential journeys overseas have historically been an chance to demonstrate the strength of the United States on the international platform. Trump's multi-day tour through eastern Asia, by contrast, has been a show of the clout of Trump – but also, at times, of that authority's limitations.

Trump's visits in Malaysia, Japan and Korea over the duration of the initial days were an display in satisfying a sometimes volatile US leader. It was an acknowledgement that the leader, with the signature of a document, could impose taxes and other measures that have the ability to harm the financial systems of export-oriented states.

His discussion with Beijing's head Xi on the final day, however, was a distinct situation.

It was a meeting of counterparts on the international scene, where the stakes for each country – for their markets, for their international prestige, for the welfare of their people – were significant.

With the Chinese, Trump may flick his power, but such actions involve consequences. They come with a cost.

• Trump hails 'remarkable' encounter with Xi but no agreement reached
• Xi and the US leader reach temporary truce as China pursues extended strategy

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

Each stop was punctuated by a combination of standard trade negotiations – agreements made under the shadow of the president's "reciprocal" tariffs – and special treatment that at moments verged on the subservient.

In the Malaysian stop, the president gained entry to essential resources and made headway toward finalizing economic agreements with ASEAN countries. He also presided over a pact that should reduce frontier issues between Thailand and Cambodia – the kind of "peace deal" the American president loves to promote.

In the Japanese leg, the president's official aircraft soared near a landmark tower lit red, white and blue – with a peak in Trumpian gold.

Newly elected Head Sanai Takaichi detailed $550 billion in Japan's financial commitments in the US and presented the American president a present of two hundred fifty cherry trees for America's 250th birthday, and a sports gear and case that belonged to Shinzo Abe, the killed ex-leader who developed ties with the president in his initial presidency.

She also became the newest foreign leader to propose Trump for his much-desired international honor.

Keeping pace, Korea greeted the president with artillery firing a 21-gun salute and a military band that rendered Hail to the Chief and YMCA – the Village People tune that has evolved into a political gathering anthem.

President Lee Jae Myung held an "award event" for Trump during which he presented the president his nation's highest medal and a copy of an ancient Korean dynastic crown.

Lunch with the Korean leader included a "Conciliatory Treat" of gold-encrusted brownies. Subsequently, the Koreans served Trump vineyard wine at an intimate dinner in the president's honour with multiple international heads participating in the Asia-Pacific Economic Conference meeting.

In the US, the president may be the focus of "No Kings" protests by Americans who oppose his limit-pushing expansions of presidential power, but during his East Asia tour he was handled as monarchy.

And like the monarchs of history, Trump came to Korea requesting tribute – in the guise of $two hundred billion in financial transfers, $20bn a per year, from Korea to the US, to be allocated at the direction of Trump's leadership. Agreement on the details of those transfers assisted in that the tax percentage on Korean products to the US would fall from 25% to under twenty percent.

The central moment of Trump's Asian tour occurred in its concluding phase, however, as he encountered the Chinese leader.

In that setting, the authority balance between counterparts of the planet's biggest economic powers was decidedly distinct than the exchanges the president had with his foreign counterparts in previous days.

Not present were typical ceremony and the pageantry. Lacking military bands, no ceremonial troops, without carefully crafted dining selections honoring shared goodwill. By contrast, the pair of counterparts and their key staff were seated across a large pale negotiating table in a nondescript service structure just adjacent to the landing strip of the southern port's air transport hub.

It was likely a indication of the significant risks that when the president exchanged greetings with the Chinese leader in Busan, he appeared