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American leader visits abroad have typically been an chance to display the influence of the US on the world stage. Trump's five-day swing through Asian nations, by contrast, has been a display of the clout of the leader – but also, at moments, of that authority's constraints.

The president's visits in Malaysia, Japan and South Korea over the duration of the initial days were an display in satisfying a at times volatile US leader. It was an admission that the president, with the stroke of a document, could impose taxes and additional actions that have the capacity to damage the financial systems of trade-reliant states.

His discussion with China's president Xi on Thursday, nevertheless, was a completely different scenario.

It was a session of counterparts on the international scene, where the risks for both nations – for their financial health, for their world reputation, for the welfare of their citizens – were significant.

With China, Trump may flick his pen, but those steps come with repercussions. They involve a cost.

• The US president hails 'remarkable' encounter with Xi but no pact finalized
• The Chinese president and Trump reach short-term ceasefire as China pursues extended strategy

For the initial phase, Trump's most recent entry into world politics was successful.

Each visit was punctuated by a blend of traditional trade negotiations – arrangements made under the pressure of the president's "equivalent" duties – and individual concessions that at points bordered on the subservient.

In the Malaysian stop, the president gained entry to essential resources and made headway toward completing economic agreements with regional partners. He also presided over a pact that should alleviate frontier issues between Thailand and Cambodia – the type of "truce" the president prefers to promote.

In Japan, the president's official aircraft passed by a landmark tower displayed US flag colors – with a peak in golden.

Newly elected Head Sanai Takaichi outlined $550bn in Tokyo's funding in the America and gave the American president a present of two hundred fifty flowering trees for the United States' 250th birthday, and a golf club and bag that came from the late leader, the killed ex-leader who developed ties with Trump in his first term.

She also became the latest foreign leader to suggest the president for his much-desired international honor.

Matching the effort, South Korea welcomed the president with artillery firing a honor salute and a service ensemble that rendered Hail to the Chief and the Village People song – the musical group song that has evolved into a political gathering standard.

Leader the Korean president held an "honour ceremony" for Trump during which he presented the president his state's top honor and a model of an ancient Korean dynastic crown.

Noon repast with the Korean leader featured a "Conciliatory Treat" of gold-encrusted baked goods. Subsequently, the South Koreans served Trump fine beverage at an private meal in Trump's honor with six global figures attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Conference meeting.

In the America, the president may be the subject of "Anti-Monarchy" demonstrations by Americans who oppose his limit-pushing extensions of presidential power, but during his East Asia visit he was handled as royalty.

And like the monarchs of old, Trump arrived in South Korea demanding payment – in the shape of $two hundred billion in cash payments, $20 billion a per year, from South Korea to the America, to be allocated at the guidance of the president's leadership. Approval on the terms of those transfers assisted in that the duty level on South Korean goods to the US would fall from a quarter to fifteen percent.

The main event of the president's Asian tour came in its final hours, however, as he met with Xi.

There, the authority balance between counterparts of the global top two markets was noticeably distinct than the interactions Trump had with his overseas colleagues in previous days.

Not present were all the ceremony and the display. Without any service ensembles, without protocol units, without meticulously designed meal plans celebrating mutual national affection. Instead, the pair of counterparts and their senior advisors were seated across a large pale meeting furniture in a nondescript military building just adjacent to the landing strip of the city of Busan's air transport hub.

It was perhaps a demonstration of the major consequences that when the president shook hands with Xi in Busan, he seemed