Essentially, yes...all he has to do is sign the order and it becomes law. The balance of powers comes into play afterward, when the judiciary rules that the executive order is unconstitutional. Then he gets to wiggle and whine.

I think you misunderstand his base. His real base doesn't expect him to improve their lives. His real base just wants to see "libs" squirming in political agony, nothing else. Pure Schadenfreude.