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Presidential journeys overseas have historically been an opportunity to showcase the influence of the US on the international platform. Trump's five-day trip through East Asia, on the other hand, has been a demonstration of the clout of the leader – but also, at moments, of that authority's limitations.

The president's visits in Malaysia, Japan and Korea over the duration of the initial days were an exercise in catering to a at times mercurial president. It was an admission that Trump, with the stroke of a pen, could introduce tariffs and further steps that have the capacity to harm the economies of trade-reliant states.

His meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on the final day, nevertheless, was a distinct situation.

It was a meeting of equals on the global stage, where the risks for the two powers – for their markets, for their world reputation, for the welfare of their citizens – were enormous.

With the Chinese, the US leader may use his authority, but those steps involve repercussions. They come with a toll.

• The US president describes 'remarkable' encounter with the Chinese leader but no agreement finalized
• Xi and Trump find temporary truce as Beijing pursues extended strategy

For the opening segment, Trump's recent foray into global diplomacy was successful.

Each visit was characterized by a mix of conventional economic talks – agreements made under the shadow of the president's "equivalent" tariffs – and individual concessions that at times verged on the subservient.

In the Malaysian stop, the president secured access to key materials and made advances toward completing trade arrangements with ASEAN countries. He also presided over a agreement that should reduce frontier issues between Thailand and Cambodia – the sort of "truce" the president loves to tout.

In the Japanese leg, Trump's Marine One soared near a Tokyo Tower illuminated American colors – with a top in Trumpian gold.

Recently chosen Leader the Japanese leader outlined $half-trillion in Tokyo's funding in the United States and offered the US leader a offering of a quarter-thousand cherry trees for the United States' 250th birthday, and a golf equipment and carrier that came from the late leader, the assassinated ex-leader who connected with Trump in his initial presidency.

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

Not to be outdone, Korea welcomed Trump with guns firing a 21-gun salute and a military band that played Hail to the Chief and the Village People song – the Village People song that has turned into a presidential event anthem.

President Lee held an "recognition ritual" for Trump during which he presented the president his state's top honor and a copy of an ancient Korean dynastic crown.

Midday meal with the Korean leader featured a "Diplomat's Sweet" of gilded baked goods. Later that day, the Koreans provided Trump vineyard wine at an intimate dinner in Trump's recognition with six world leaders present at the Asia-Pacific Economic Conference summit.

In the United States, the president may be the focus of "Anti-Authority" demonstrations by the public who disapprove of his boundary-testing expansions of presidential power, but during his East Asia visit he was received as nobility.

And like the monarchs of old, Trump came to Korea requesting contribution – in the shape of $200bn in monetary contributions, $20bn a per year, from South Korea to the US, to be invested at the discretion of Trump's government. Consent on the details of those transfers contributed to that the duty level on host nation exports to the United States would drop from twenty-five percent to 15%.

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

At that location, the influence relationship between leaders of the world's two largest economies was decidedly different than the interactions Trump had with his overseas colleagues in earlier stops.

Absent were typical pomp and the pageantry. Without any armed forces orchestras, no protocol units, no carefully crafted menus honoring bilateral friendship. Instead, the two leaders and their key staff positioned themselves across a large pale negotiating table in a nondescript military building just near the airstrip of Busan's international airport.

It was perhaps a demonstration of the high stakes that when Trump made contact with Xi in the Korean city, he appeared