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Presidential journeys abroad have traditionally been an occasion to display the power of the American nation on the world stage. The president's multi-day swing through East Asia, conversely, has been a display of the power of Trump – but also, at points, of that authority's limitations.

Trump's destinations in Malaysia, Japan and South Korea over the duration of the first four days were an demonstration in catering to a at times unpredictable American president. It was an recognition that Trump, with the stroke of a hand, could impose duties and other measures that have the capacity to damage the economies of export-oriented states.

His discussion with Beijing's head Xi Jinping on Thursday, however, was something entirely different.

It was a encounter of counterparts on the world platform, where the risks for each country – for their markets, for their international prestige, for the well-being of their populations – were significant.

With the Chinese, the president may wave his authority, but these moves entail repercussions. They carry a cost.

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

Each destination was marked by a mix of conventional commercial discussions – deals made under the pressure of Trump's "mutual" duties – and personal accommodations that at moments bordered on the deferential.

In the Malaysian stop, Trump gained rights to critical minerals and made headway toward concluding economic agreements with regional partners. He also oversaw a pact that should reduce border tensions between Thailand and Cambodia – the type of "peace deal" the president loves to tout.

In Japan, Trump's official aircraft passed by a Tokyo Tower illuminated American colors – with a peak in gilded.

Recently chosen Prime Minister Sanai Takaichi described $half-trillion in Tokyo's funding in the United States and gave the American president a gift of two hundred fifty sakura trees for the United States' semiquincentennial, and a golf club and case that belonged to former Prime Minister Abe, the killed ex-leader who connected with the president in his initial presidency.

She also became the newest foreign leader to suggest Trump for his highly-coveted international honor.

Keeping pace, Korea welcomed Trump with artillery firing a 21-gun salute and a armed forces orchestra that performed the leader's song and the Village People song – the Village People song that has turned into a political gathering standard.

Leader the Korean president held an "recognition ritual" for Trump during which he presented the American leader his state's top honor and a model of an traditional ruler's coronet.

Midday meal with the Korean leader contained a "Diplomat's Sweet" of gold-encrusted chocolate squares. Later that day, the South Koreans offered the president vineyard wine at an exclusive gathering in Trump's honor with six global figures attending the regional summit meeting.

In the United States, Trump may be the target of "Anti-Monarchy" demonstrations by Americans who reject his authority-expanding extensions of presidential power, but during his regional visit he was handled as royalty.

And like the monarchs of history, Trump visited Korea seeking tribute – in the form of $200 billion in monetary contributions, $twenty billion a annually, from South Korea to the US, to be allocated at the direction of the president's leadership. Consent on the conditions of those contributions helped ensure that the duty level on South Korean goods to the US would decrease from 25% to 15%.

The central moment of Trump's Asia trip occurred in its last moments, nevertheless, as he sat down with the Chinese leader.

There, the influence relationship between counterparts of the global top two markets was markedly divergent than the exchanges the president had with his international peers in earlier stops.

Not present were all the ceremony and the pageantry. Without any service ensembles, no protocol units, missing thoughtfully prepared menus marking mutual national affection. Instead, the two leaders and their key staff sat across a large pale meeting furniture in a plain service structure just near the airstrip of the city of Busan's air transport hub.

It was likely a demonstration of the major consequences that when the president shook hands with the Chinese leader in the southern port, he looked