This is an audio cast of Frontlines the Choice 2016,

premiering on September 27th on PBS and Online.

This past July, Donald Trump accepted the Republican nomination.

It was a moment of vindication for a candidate who had climbed back from a bitter public humiliation.

We're talking about the White House car spot and stitter. Tonight it's an annual event right now.

Donald Trump has been in.

It happened in April 2011 at one of Washington DC's most glamorous nights.

I got to talk to Donald as we were going to our seats for a more apprentice contestant, Omarosa Medical.

And he was in just such a great mood and he was very jov-y-o and people were taking pictures.

And it was very exciting that Donald was there.

Trump's invitation to the exclusive gathering came after weeks of attacking President Barack Obama on television.

You are not allowed to be a president if you're not born in this country.

He may not have been born in this country.

But there's something on that person, maybe religion, maybe it says he's a Muslim.

I don't know, maybe he doesn't want that or he may not have one.

But I will tell you this, if he wasn't born in this country, it's one of the great scams of the world.

Absolutely.

But that night, in front of Washington's journalists, politicians and power brokers, Obama would hit back.

President Obama takes the microphone byographer Timothy O'Brien.

All right, everybody. Please have a seat.

Donald Trump is here tonight.

And proceeds to filet Donald publicly.

...