I don't see how this could come as a suprise to anyone as it was common knowledge of you follow this stuff that they failed to request a jury. I think hearing it in court would be like "ok, it's official".

There's really no way out for Trump in this one, now, from what I understand.

I'm guessing his lawyers did not tell him what happened, were playing dumb, and are hoping he's too clueless to realize it's their fault he can't even hope for a lone, contrarian jury member to get him out of this.