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American leader visits overseas have historically been an opportunity to display the power of the American nation on the world stage. Trump's multi-day swing through East Asia, conversely, has been a show of the authority of Trump – but also, at moments, of that power's constraints.

Trump's stops in Malaysia, Japan and Korea over the duration of the initial days were an display in satisfying a occasionally mercurial president. It was an acknowledgement that the president, with the signature of a document, could introduce duties and other measures that have the potential to harm the markets of trade-reliant countries.

His discussion with China's president Xi Jinping on the final day, however, was something entirely different.

It was a encounter of peers on the international scene, where the consequences for the two powers – for their economies, for their world reputation, for the well-being of their people – were enormous.

With China, the US leader may flick his authority, but these moves entail repercussions. They come with a cost.

• Trump praises 'impressive' encounter with the Chinese leader but no trade deal reached
• Xi and the US leader reach short-term ceasefire as Beijing pursues extended strategy

For the opening segment, the president's latest foray into world politics was uneventful.

Each visit was characterized by a blend of standard trade negotiations – agreements made under the shadow of the president's "mutual" duties – and personal accommodations that at points approached the obsequious.

In Malaysia, the president gained entry to critical minerals and made headway toward completing commercial deals with ASEAN countries. He also presided over a agreement that should reduce frontier issues between Thailand and Cambodia – the kind of "peace deal" the president enjoys to tout.

In Japan, Trump's helicopter passed by a landmark tower lit US flag colors – with a summit in gilded.

Recently chosen Prime Minister Sanai Takaichi outlined $550 billion in Tokyo's funding in the America and gave the US leader a gift of 250 cherry trees for the United States' 250th birthday, and a sports gear 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 international head to suggest the president for his highly-coveted international honor.

Not to be outdone, Korea greeted the president with guns discharging a 21-gun salute and a military band that rendered the leader's song and the Village People song – the musical group anthem that has become a political gathering theme.

Leader Lee held an "honour ceremony" for the US leader during which he presented the US president his country's highest medal and a replica of an ancient Korean dynastic crown.

Noon repast with Lee contained a "Conciliatory Treat" of gold-encrusted chocolate squares. Subsequently, the Koreans offered the president vineyard wine at an private meal in Trump's recognition with six world leaders present at the Asia-Pacific Economic Conference meeting.

In the United States, Trump may be the focus of "Anti-Authority" rallies by US citizens who oppose his authority-expanding expansions of leader's control, but during his East Asia swing he was received as nobility.

And like the monarchs of history, the president visited South Korea demanding contribution – in the form of $200bn in financial transfers, $20 billion a year, from South Korea to the US, to be used at the direction of Trump's leadership. Approval on the terms of those contributions assisted in that the duty level on South Korean products to the US would drop from twenty-five percent to 15%.

The primary focus of Trump's Asia trip took place in its concluding phase, though, as he sat down with the Chinese leader.

At that location, the power dynamic between counterparts of the global top two markets was noticeably different than the exchanges the president had with his foreign counterparts in prior visits.

Missing were all the pageantry and the display. No armed forces orchestras, absent ceremonial troops, no carefully crafted dining selections honoring mutual national affection. Rather, the two leaders and their top aides sat across a large pale negotiating table in a plain armed forces facility just adjacent to the landing strip of the city of Busan's global terminal.

It was likely a reflection of the high stakes that when the president exchanged greetings with the Chinese leader in Busan, he looked