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Presidential journeys overseas have traditionally been an opportunity to display the power of the United States on the international platform. The president's week-long swing through Asian nations, on the other hand, has been a display of the clout of Trump – but also, at points, of that authority's limitations.

The president's visits in Malaysia, Japan and Korea over the duration of the initial days were an display in satisfying a sometimes mercurial American president. It was an acknowledgement that the leader, with the stroke of a pen, could impose taxes and additional actions that have the potential to harm the economies of export-oriented states.

His discussion with China's president Xi Jinping on the final day, though, was a distinct situation.

It was a meeting of peers on the world platform, where the consequences for the two powers – for their economies, for their international prestige, for the well-being of their populations – were immense.

With the Chinese, Trump may use his authority, but such actions come with ramifications. They carry a cost.

• The US president praises 'amazing' meeting with Xi but no pact reached
• Xi and the US leader reach short-term ceasefire as China pursues extended strategy

For the opening segment, Trump's most recent entry into world politics was successful.

Each visit was characterized by a mix of conventional trade negotiations – agreements made under the threat of Trump's "equivalent" taxes – and special treatment that at moments verged on the subservient.

In Malaysia, the president secured rights to critical minerals and made progress toward concluding economic agreements with ASEAN countries. He also led a treaty that should ease frontier issues between Thailand and Cambodia – the sort of "peace deal" the president enjoys to promote.

In Japan, the president's official aircraft flew past a famous structure illuminated red, white and blue – with a summit in gilded.

Newly elected Leader the Japanese leader outlined $550bn in Japanese investments in the United States and offered the US leader a gift of 250 flowering trees for the United States' 250th birthday, and a golf equipment and bag that came from former Prime Minister Abe, the murdered ex-leader who connected with the president in his previous administration.

She also became the latest overseas counterpart to propose Trump for his highly-coveted Nobel Peace Prize.

Not to be outdone, Korea received the president with cannons firing a 21-gun salute and a armed forces orchestra that played the leader's song and the classic tune – the musical group tune that has evolved into a political gathering standard.

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

Lunch with Lee featured a "Diplomat's Sweet" of gold-encrusted chocolate squares. Subsequently, the hosts served Trump fine beverage at an private meal in Trump's honour with half-dozen international heads attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Conference summit.

In the United States, Trump may be the target of "Anti-Authority" rallies by the public who disapprove of his authority-expanding increases of presidential power, but during his Asian tour he was received as monarchy.

And like the rulers of history, Trump visited Korea demanding contribution – in the guise of $200bn in financial transfers, $twenty billion a year, from the host nation to the America, to be invested at the guidance of Trump's leadership. Approval on the terms of those contributions contributed to that the duty level on Korean goods to the US would drop from twenty-five percent to fifteen percent.

The central moment of Trump's Asian tour occurred in its final hours, however, as he encountered Xi.

In that setting, the power dynamic between leaders of the global top two markets was markedly different than the exchanges the president had with his overseas colleagues in previous days.

Not present were the usual pageantry and the pageantry. Lacking armed forces orchestras, no ceremonial troops, missing meticulously designed dining selections marking shared goodwill. Rather, the pair of counterparts and their key staff were seated across a extended light-colored meeting furniture in a plain service structure just near the airstrip of Busan's international airport.

It was likely a indication of the major consequences that when Trump made contact with Xi in Busan, he seemed