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US presidential trips internationally have historically been an opportunity to display the influence of the United States on the international platform. The president's week-long tour through eastern Asia, on the other hand, has been a show of the clout of the president – but also, at moments, of that authority's limitations.

Trump's visits in Malaysia, Japan and Korea over the course of the initial days were an display in pleasing a at times unpredictable American president. It was an admission that the president, with the stroke of a pen, could impose duties and other measures that have the ability to damage the financial systems of export-oriented nations.

His meeting with Chinese leader Xi on the last day, however, was a completely different scenario.

It was a session of peers on the international scene, where the consequences for each country – for their financial health, for their international prestige, for the prosperity of their citizens – were significant.

With China, the president may use his power, but those steps entail ramifications. They involve a price.

• Trump praises 'remarkable' talks with Xi but no pact finalized
• Xi and the US leader establish brief pause as Beijing plays longer game

For the first four days, Trump's most recent entry into world politics was successful.

Each visit was marked by a mix of standard trade negotiations – agreements made under the pressure of the president's "reciprocal" tariffs – and special treatment that at times approached the subservient.

In Malaysia, the president gained rights to essential resources and made advances toward finalizing economic agreements with south-east Asian nations. He also oversaw a pact that should reduce territorial disputes between Thailand and Cambodia – the type of "peace deal" the president prefers to promote.

In the Japanese leg, the president's Marine One flew past a Tokyo Tower displayed American colors – with a summit in Trumpian gold.

Recently chosen Prime Minister Sanai Takaichi described $550 billion in Tokyo's funding in the America and offered the American president a present of 250 sakura trees for America's 250th anniversary, and a sports gear and carrier that belonged to former Prime Minister Abe, the murdered former prime minister who developed ties with Trump in his first term.

She also became the latest international head to nominate Trump for his much-desired Nobel Peace Prize.

Keeping pace, the Korean government received the president with artillery performing a traditional greeting and a service ensemble that played Hail to the Chief and the classic tune – the band anthem that has evolved into a presidential event anthem.

Head Lee held an "recognition ritual" for Trump during which he gave the president his state's top honor and a model of an traditional ruler's coronet.

Midday meal with Lee featured a "Conciliatory Treat" of gold-encrusted chocolate squares. Later that day, the Koreans provided the president premium vintage at an exclusive gathering in the president's honor with half-dozen international heads attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Conference meeting.

In the United States, the president may be the target of "No Kings" demonstrations by Americans who reject his authority-expanding expansions of leader's control, but during his East Asia visit he was handled as royalty.

And like the kings of history, the president came to the Korean nation requesting contribution – in the shape of $two hundred billion in cash payments, $20 billion a annually, from Korea to the US, to be allocated at the discretion of Trump's leadership. Consent on the details of those transfers helped ensure that the tariff rate on host nation goods to the US would fall from 25% to fifteen percent.

The primary focus of the president's regional visit took place in its last moments, though, as he encountered the Chinese leader.

There, the influence relationship between heads of the planet's biggest economic powers was decidedly different than the meetings Trump had with his international peers in previous days.

Absent were all the pomp and the display. Lacking military bands, no ceremonial troops, missing thoughtfully prepared meal plans honoring shared goodwill. Rather, the both heads and their top aides positioned themselves across a large pale meeting furniture in a unremarkable service structure just adjacent to the landing strip of the southern port's air transport hub.

It was likely a demonstration of the major consequences that when Trump exchanged greetings with Xi in the southern port, he appeared